In the summer of 2017, researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) pushed the old Saale bridge in Hammelburg in Franconia to its limits: They carried out a total of five load tests - resulting in nasty cracks. In combination with laboratory tests, they hope to determine whether older bridges have greater load reserves than previously assumed. The initial results are now in.
Increasing numbers of cars and especially heavy goods transports are crossing bridges. In Germany, more than half of the bridges are over 35 years old. Prof. Oliver Fischer , professor at the Chair of Concrete and Masonry Structures of TUM explains: "That means completely different loads were assumed back in the day when they were designed. ...
