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Bridge Inspection

Mark P. Rossow, PhD, PE Retired


Course Outline

This ten-hour online course discusses the procedures necessary to plan and conduct an inspection of a bridge,  For a bridge of any common material or type (except a suspension bridge), the inspector will know what particular problems may arise and how they will manifest themselves, if present.  The inspector will also know how to ensure the safety of his team and how to report the final results of the inspection.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

This course is intended for civil, construction, structural and mechanical engineers.

Benefit to Attendees

An attendee of this course will be able to plan and implement a bridge-inspection program for almost any type of bridge, except a suspension bridge.

Course Introduction

The construction of a bridge generally constitutes a significant cost in the operation of a transportation system. This cost can be avoided or at least delayed for many years by extending the bridge service life through a program of maintenance and repair. Any such program must be preceded by a thorough inspection of the bridge to determine the location and extent of deterioration and damage to the structure or to the channel and soil adjacent to the structure.  Based on accumulated experience with bridges of common types and made of common materials, an inspection program can be designed that will direct the inspection team to the likely areas of concern in the structure and its environs.  Describing how such a comprehensive and rational inspection program can be formulated is the subject of this course.

Course Content

The course is based on Chapters 1-9 of the manual “Joint Departments of the Army and Air Force, TM 5-600/AFJPAM 32-1088, Bridge Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair,” released in December, 1994.

TM 5-600/AFJPAM 32-1088, Bridge Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair

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Course Summary

Given the material and type of bridge to be inspected, a procedure has been presented that will enable a bridge-inspection team to know in advance where and how to look for likely evidence and causes of structural and foundation deterioration and damage.  The tools to use, the sequence in which the bridge components should be inspected, precautions to take to ensure inspector safety,  and the proper way to report the results all have been described.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

FHA National Bridge Inspection Standards

NCHRP Synthesis 375 Bridge Inspection Practices

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.


DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.