Structural Protection of Long Span Bridges

This paper addresses the special and additional requirements that a structural protection system has to cope with when it has to protect large span bridges. In large span bridges it is the often the service state (e.g., wind, traffic) rather than the ultimate limit state that dictates the characteristics of suitable structural protection elements, like shock transmitters with force limiters, or bridge bearings, or expansion joints. We come to conclude that extending the limits of large span bridges requires the input of additional design parameters for their structural protection systems. Which, if not considered, may lead to excessive wear and consequently to frequent maintenance or even replacement. Case studies will prove that point.