• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.136-149
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• 2011

Large portion of the domestic bridges are slab bridges reflecting the geographical characteristic of the country, where exists lots of inclines and small winding brooks. Many of the slab bridges are damaged and superannuated as they become obsolete. Deterioration is accelerated when the traffic density becomes large and heavy vehicles pass frequently. A strengthening method for deteriorated slab bridges was studied in this work. The examined net-type strengthening method uses both longitudinal and transverse prestressing for strengthening. In this way, the deflection at the center of the slab can be better controlled, and consequently, the slab is more efficiently strengthened. Three slab specimens were fabricated for the experimental test and subjected to three different loading conditions, and the load bearing capacities and deflections of slabs were examined. Flexural stiffness of slabs increased by 30.7~107.3%, and deflection of slabs decreased by 27.6~52.2% after net-type strengthening. The net-type prestressing is efficient to the strengthening for the center of a slab, and its efficiency is also valid under eccentric loadings. Since extra prestress forces can be added in the future, if necessary, the net-type strengthening system is advantagous for the maintenance and repair of slab bridges.