| In Japan, approximately 50% of the bridges will become more than 50 years old in next decade and numerous bridges have been damaged while they are in service. Needs for inspection, assessment, repair and rehabilitation of existing bridges are rapidly increasing. Center for Advanced Engineering Structural Assessment and Research (CAESAR) was established as one of the organization of Public Works Research Institute (PWRI) in Japan to tackle such current infrastructural issue. For safe and sustainable use, CAESAR focuses on a “clinical study” which utilizes decommissioned bridges. The final goal of the study is to establish evaluation methods for deteriorated bridges. We introduce current condition of Japanese highway bridges and its management in this paper. Concerning concrete bridges, examples of defects of bridges and CAESAR’s research activity utilizing decommissioned bridges are also described. |
