Ganzheitliche Bewertung von Stahl- und Verbundbrücken nach Kriterien der Nachhaltigkeit

Holistic assessment of steel and composite bridges according to criteria of sustainability.

Bridges are essential for the infrastructure network and cover a large investment volume. Compared to building construction bridges are especially long-living structures with a scheduled service-life of 100 years. Therefore, it is evident that special attention must be focussed on the sustainability in bridge construction. In the research project P843, named as this article, a holistic assessment of steel and composite bridges is made by the analysis of the three aspects of the environmental, economic and socio/cultural quality. Three different types of reference bridges are studied over the entire life cycle and specific characteristics of bridges pointed out regarding sustainability analyses. By the description of degradation processes the life cycle can be described and anticipated as accurate as possible and required maintenance measurements planed. The elaboration of a holistic database for bridges shall give support during design and at tender stage for an evaluation by criteria of sustainability.