Reinforced concrete half-joints
James Fisher Strainstall (JF Strainstall) can provide condition investigation services for bridges with reinforced concrete half-joints. From the initial consultation through to risk review and testing, JF Strainstall seeks to determine the likelihood of serious defects and advise on the structural performance.
Half-joints in reinforced concrete bridge decks and sub-structures are found in a variety of forms, which are often in difficult to inspect places and pose the risk of hidden defects. Common defects start from water leakage through the movement joint, causing corrosion which may go undetected. Visual inspection can find external defects, however, these inspections are frequently insufficient to confirm the internal condition.
In recent years, notable bridge collapses in Canada and Italy have both involved defects at reinforced concrete half joints in which inspection alone was unable to determine the severity of the prior condition.
JF Strainstall offers a comprehensive service including relevant non-destructive techniques for investigation of internal cracking and corrosion. We can also monitor movements and create warning systems for further deterioration along with the services below:
- Review of available drawings, inspections and past investigations
- Special visual inspections
- Risk scoring and prioritisation
- Radar and eddy current scanning to determine internal reinforcement details, checking bar positioning and anchorage lengths
- Concrete condition investigations for external faces, including carbonation, chlorination and half-cell potential
- Ultrasonic screening through concrete for detection of internal cracking at mid-depth
- Structural monitoring for future condition changes and damage detection
- Interpretive review and recommendations for bridge management
