Field test of an old RC bridge before and after NSM strengthening

In this paper, a post-tension near-surface mounted (NSM) strengthening system is proposed to strengthen concrete structures with a relatively low amount of labor and without altering the appearance or dimensions of the structures. The main objective of this study was to investigate the structural behavior of an old reinforced concrete T (RCT) type bridge before and after using post-tension NSM strengthening systems. The 12.5 m RCT type bridge was tested using the truck loading test. The displacements of the bridge at mid-span were measured during the test. A finite element analysis model was also developed and verified with the test result. This study showed that the structural capacity and performance of the bridge were enhanced with post-tension NSM strengthening systems.