Publication
Abstract
The Bann River Bridge is located on the M1 Motorway in Northern Ireland. The Bridge was assessed as part of the National Assessment Programme. Localised durability problems were identified in the areas of the expansion joints, which had failed, allowing deicing slat contamination to parts of the bridge soffit and parts of the substructure. The bridge had failed the loading requirements of the National Assessment Programme, achieving 45% of the required HA Loading. The preferred repair and strengthening option involved the repair of the contaminated areas. However, concrete replacement repairs could not be applied economically to some of the contaminated areas owing to access problems and the extent of the contamination. Electrochemical repair technique were therefore regarded as the only viable repair option. The Department for the Environment Roads Service (NI) decided to carry out an electrochemical chloride extraction demonstration on part of the bridge, to ascertain the effectiveness of the technique. The University of Ulster was commissioned to provide independent assessment of the success of the treatment. During the autumn of 1997 the demonstration was carried out by Martech Services Ltd, and the range of tests performed by the team from the University of Ulster proved its success.
