The paper presents the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) testing to determine the parameters of reinforced concrete (RC) viaduct beams. The non-destructive assessment of the condition of engineering structures using GPR has lately become quite an attractive and effective method of testing. The subject of this study is a three-span RC road viaduct. In relation to the adopted reinforcement method and the lack of design documentation for the existing viaduct, it was necessary to obtain basic information on the beams occurring in the object. The main purpose of the experimental tests using the GPR technique was to determine the geometric parameters of beams and reinforcing bars within them. The distances between particular reinforcing bars and the depth of their position were also to be determined. Conclusions drawn from the tests can be helpful in measurements using the GPR technique, especially for tests of RC bridges

Reactive powder concrete (RPC), typically with higher compressive strength, is particularly attractive to structural engineers to apply them in infrastructures for enhancing their resistance under severe environments and loads. The main objective of the initial study presented in the paper was to investigate the behavior of two types of these new cementitious materials differing in the nature of microfibers. The RPC mixes were reinforced with steel and then with basalt microfibers. To evaluate the structural performance of developed unconventional materials, properties were investigated experimentally and compared with the control normal concrete mix. Mechanical tests indicated that dispersing fine fibers for making RPC, a mean compressive strength of 198.3 MPa and flexural strength 52.6 MPa or 23.2 MPa, respectively, were developed after 28 days of standard curing at ambient temperatures. In composite structures consisting of steel girders and a concrete slab, it is necessary to prevent the relative slip at the steel and concrete interface using shear connectors. The very high RPC strength enabled a material saving, weight-reduced application of precast construction, and particularly effective joint to steel beams. The investigation of such shear connection efficiency, in the case of the higher strength concrete deck, using standard push-out test specimens was executed. Finite element numerical models were developed. The outputs of the studies are presented in the paper.

This paper presents the results of field load tests on four spans of a post-tensioned, prestressed concrete road bridge over a reservoir water plant on the Nysa Klodzka River in Topola, Poland, under static loads. The spans were especially designed for B-class loads (400 kN) according to Polish load standards. They underwent a whole range of research, which included testing bridge deck slab deflections under trial static (and dynamic) loads. The tests were performed on October 28, 2002.