Assessment of the Historic Cast Steel Bearings of the Chemnitz Viaduct

The Chemnitz viaduct, constructed in the early twentieth century and recently refurbished to preserve its listed status, underwent a comprehensive assessment, including evaluating the potential further use of its individual cast steel bearing components. This evaluation encompassed standard non-destructive and destructive testing, supplemented by numerical calculations to validate the load-bearing capacity. Complex loading conditions, including stress states from prior plasticization, were considered through non-linear calculations involving loading, unloading, and reloading. Innovatively, casting simulations, 3D scans for an accurate portrayal of the current condition, and fracture mechanical investigations to assess the risk of brittle fracture and potential crack propagation were integral to the assessment. Challenging aspects, such as difficult accessibility and complex loading conditions, further heightened the complexity of the investigation. This paper presents the bearing concept of the bridge and outlines the methodology employed in the assessment, providing a detailed description of individual components alongside their corresponding results. Significantly, the assessment allowed for the continued use of most of the bearing components.