Tests and inspections at the Zona Franca Bridge in Barcelona
General Information
Year: 2022-2023
Client: El Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona
Location: Barcelona, Spain.
Main actions: Inspections and Non-Destructive Testing
Inspection and Testing Campaign to Ensure Safety, Durability, and Functionality.
Detecting weak points and determining the necessary maintenance actions are one of the main areas of action of SOCOTEC's quality control team.
At SOCOTEC, we play a crucial role in the rehabilitation of infrastructures such as the Feixa Llarga road bridge in the Zona Franca Industrial Estate in Barcelona. We address its shortcomings through a comprehensive set of actions to determine the necessary repairs.
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What are the objectives of the construction inspection?
Our Approach Focuses on Ensuring the Safety, Durability, and Functionality of the Bridge, through:
Bridge Structural Assessment:
Our highly trained technical team performed exhaustive visual inspections, identifying apparent damage to the bridge structure.
Additionally, we carried out detailed structural evaluations using advanced Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques. This process provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the structural integrity, identifying points of weakness and wear, thereby facilitating future repairs and maintenance of the road bridge.
Specialized Non-Destructive Testing:
The application of a variety of specialized techniques, such as ultrasound, radiography, penetrant liquids, and magnetic particles, allowed us to assess the structural health of the bridge.
These tests allowed us to detect damage types such as micro-cracks, corrosion, and other problems that could compromise the long-term stability of the bridge.
TESTING & INSPECTIONS
Inspection Work on Bridges
One of the major challenges in infrastructure maintenance is the accurate detection of critical points. SOCOTEC facilitates the creation of a meticulous rehabilitation strategy, prioritizing preventative measures and fortifying vulnerable areas, thereby enhancing the bridge's longevity.
Through SOCOTEC's inspection capabilities, numerous cracked welds were identified, likely resulting from insufficient maintenance over time and the significant stress exerted by heavy traffic on the road bridge, particularly from heavy-duty vehicles.
Considering these shortcomings and the various types of damage observed, a repair and reinforcement strategy was devised for the vital areas of the structure. The application of protective paint will serve to safeguard and uphold the integrity of the bridge before its return to service.
One of the major challenges in infrastructure maintenance is the accurate detection of critical points. SOCOTEC facilitates the creation of a meticulous rehabilitation strategy, prioritizing preventative measures and fortifying vulnerable areas, thereby enhancing the bridge's longevity.
Through SOCOTEC's inspection capabilities, numerous cracked welds were identified, likely resulting from insufficient maintenance over time and the significant stress exerted by heavy traffic on the road bridge, particularly from heavy-duty vehicles.
Considering these shortcomings and the various types of damage observed, a repair and reinforcement strategy was devised for the vital areas of the structure. The application of protective paint will serve to safeguard and uphold the integrity of the bridge before its return to service.
We are experts in the inspection of bridges and railway structures
What is done in a construction inspection?
Inspections are essential to ensure the safety and integrity of bridges. As experts in conducting detailed inspections on bridge SOCOTEC offers a wide range of services to comprehensively assess the structure of these infrastructures.
- In the case of the Feixa Llarga Bridge in the Zona Franca Industrial Estate in Barcelona, our team of highly qualified technicians carried out an exhaustive inspection using a variety of techniques, including: paint layer thickness measurements, adhesion tests, corrosion inspection, visual inspection, magnetic particle testing.
- The inspection results allowed for the precise identification of all types of damage present in the bridge structure, including: cracks, corrosion and deformations.
Based on this invaluable insight, it was possible to develop an appropriate repair and reinforcement plan to guarantee the safety of the road bridge and extend its lifespan.
