Due to changes in use and load increases, many load-bearing structures show significant load-bearing capacity deficits in the course of recalculations. This applies in particular to bridge structures, where reinforcement deficits frequently arise due to the massive increase in traffic volume, but also due to changes in the assessment standards. Since a large part of Germany's bridge infrastructure was built 40 to 60 years ago, renewal of these structures would not only lead to enormous economic costs, but would also have far-reaching ecological consequences, for example with regard to CO2 emissions from the diversion traffic. The following article is intended to show the positive environmental aspects of strengthening the structures in comparison to replacement constructions on the basis of two examples carried out and associated ecological studies.
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Due to changes in use and load increases, many load-bearing structures show significant load-bearing capacity deficits in the course of recalculations. This applies in particular to bridge structures, where reinforcement deficits frequently arise due to the massive increase in traffic volume, but also due to changes in the assessment standards. Since a large part of Germany's bridge infrastructure was built 40 to 60 years ago, renewal of these structures would not only lead to enormous economic...
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