This study aims to investigate the structural condition of the Zogu Bridge, a designated cultural monument in Albania, focusing on the impact of scour phenomena and the recent threat of devastating flood events. Namely, this study aims to assess the potential risks that could lead to the collapse of the bridge. It underlines the urgency of addressing critical issues to preserve this important cultural and engineering heritage. The study is based on an in-depth analysis combining extensive topographical and geotechnical investigations of the site. In addition, numerical analysis are carried out to evaluate the structural risks associated with the settlement that occurred at Pier P2 during the flood of January 11, 2021. The load-bearing capacity of the bridge was analyzed to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the overall structural integrity. The methodology involves a comprehensive approach to collecting data and assessing the various factors contributing to the precarious condition of the Zogu Bridge. The results of the study reveal alarming conditions, particularly in relation to pier P2, which has subsided by more than 2 m, jeopardizing the overall stability of the bridge. The numerical analysis show that Pier P2 had already lost more than 60% of its load-bearing capacity before the settlement occurred. In addition, piers P5, P1, P3, and P4 are in critical condition, with pier P5 teetering on the edge of equilibrium. Urgent action is deemed crucial to prevent further progression of scour depth which would pose a serious threat to the stability of the entire Zogu Bridge. The originality and contribution of this study lie in the comprehensive examination of the Zogu Bridge, which addresses both the technical aspects and the cultural significance of the structure. The identification of specific risks and critical conditions, supported by thorough site investigations and numerical assessments, provides valuable insights for preservation efforts. Our findings suggest that the construction of a rockfill weir downstream of the bridge would be the most effective short-term measure. This approach would mitigate scouring around the bridge piers, lowering the collapse risk of the Zogu Bridge from extreme to medium. The urgent call to take effective action underscores the importance of preserving this centuries-old engineering masterpiece, highlighting its dual significance as an outstanding work of architecture and a treasured cultural monument of both national and international value.

Conditions of existing bridges are often problematic issues and expensive to resolve for many countries. In order to anticipate and reduce these problems, the combination of various general and local factors causing degradation needs to be identified in the early stage. The identification of these problems reveals the need for local research and detailed inspection for bridges. Reinforced Concrete Bridges in Albania were built at different standards in different periods and were exposed to rapidly increasing and changing traffic loads in the last three decades. This situation made the structural assessment of the bridges inevitable in the local conditions. Although the existing condition of these bridges had not been clearly defined, after democratization and joining the European Council (the 1990s), new bridges were rapidly built and existing bridges were strengthened with different methods. In this context, the structural condition of existing reinforced concrete bridges in Albania was examined in this study. The condition of Albanian bridges was presented in this paper based on visual inspection of 104 bridges covering the total length of 7271.6 m along 263 km road from different parts of the country, concentrating on local causes of deteriorations. The main causes of the defects are figured out in the study as traffic load, natural force, aging, lack of maintenance, and last but not least construction and design deficiencies. The study concludes that the general physical condition of the bridges is poor, so the services provided by the bridges are potentially at risk. The results obtained at the end of this study may be valid for countries with similar features, e.g., other Balkan countries.

This study experimentally and numerically examines the structural and seismic performance of recycled solid-brick masonry infills and load-bearing walls constructed from demolition materials. Solid bricks recovered from demolished structures were reused as infill in reinforced concrete (RC) frames and as standalone walls. Five full-scale panels, bare, 50% infilled, and 100% infilled frames, were tested under diagonal compression in accordance with ASTM E519-17, simulating in-plane seismic loading. Results showed that fully infilled frames exhibited a 149% increase in diagonal shear strength but a 40% reduction in ductility relative to the bare frame, indicating a trade-off between stiffness and deformation capacity. Finite element simulations using the Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model reproduced the experimental load–displacement curves with close agreement (within 6–8% in peak load) and captured the main failure patterns. Reusing cleaned demolition bricks reduces the demand for new fired bricks and helps divert construction waste from landfill, contributing to sustainable and circular construction. The findings confirm the potential of recycled masonry for low-carbon and seismic-resilient construction, provided that ductility limitations are appropriately addressed in design.

Researchers' efforts to analyse the causes of failure and/or diversion in the construction industry are extensive. Nevertheless, the number of construction projects that present deficiencies minima...