Solving The Bridge Maintenance Problem In Bulgaria - an Analysis of The Opportunities Offered By Composite Materials

Many bridges all around the world experience very hard climatic conditions, and due to the irregular maintenance effort, show different problems of cracking, concrete cover detachment and steel reinforcement wear and corrosion. In general, as a consequence of the polluted rain wetting, the problem is more evident in vertical structures than in the horizontal ones, and serious problems can arise when the piers and columns are very tall. In recent times, the solutions offered by composite materials have shown their effectiveness in the field of bridge maintenance. As a consequence of lightness and ease of installation they are particularly intended to the rehabilitation of tall slender structures. Furthermore, the externally bonded reinforcement offers a valid protection to chloride diffusion and rusting of steel rebars. In the paper the situation of the Bulgarian highways is briefly discussed in order to point out the key factors that promote the deterioration of the concrete structures. Afterwards, the recent knowledge gained in the retrofit of building and bridges gained in Italy in ten years of external application of FRP as a solving problem tool is summarized. Finally, the potentiality of these techniques in the solution of the maintenance problem of Bulgarian bridges is reviewed, with the aim to point out the possible cost reduction and life extension characteristic of these solutions, when translated in the Bulgarian environment. Some application proposals close the presentation.