The basic OBJECTIVE of this mini-TRAINING MANUAL (presented in a class-room-type Training course) is to provide the background technical information to the concerned ENGINEERS to FAMILIARISE them with the WORKING for the MAINTENANCE and REHABILITATION of BRIDGES and CULVERTS.
This mini-TRAINING MANUAL is for the basic understanding of:
- the major components involved, their functions, and the materials of which they are constructed,
- deterioration during their service-life,
- various maintenance requirements,
- specific rehabilitation techniques, and
- decision-making procedures.
The SCOPE of this TRAINING-COURSE covers the general information regarding:
- bridge/culvert types,
- their components and their basic designs,
- the materials generally used in their construction,
- deterioration of the components during their service,
- routine maintenance procedures,
- somewhat special rehabilitation techniques, AND
- the management techniques and decision-making processes.
After explaining some relevant DEFINITIONS involved and a brief Introduction, this mini-MANUAL then describes various materials of construction involved and various possible CAUSES of Service-related DETERIORATION. It opens the important window explaining at length The Bridge Structure INSPECTION, DEFICIENCIES, REMEDIES and PREVENTION.
The all-important POLICY for MAINTENANCE is explained simply and lucidly. Then - very appropriately - the whole gamut of the oft-used magic word BMMS (BRIDGE MAINTENANCE and MANAGEMENT SYSTEM !!) is explained in great detail. This forms the very 'backbone' of running the MAINTENANCE and REHABILITATION Policy Activities.
Once this is grasped, the all-important actions of PROTECTION, REPAIR and STRENGTHENING the bridge-structure are then dwelt-upon in a workman-like manner. The entire exercise of INSPECTION, DEFICIENCIES, REMEDIES and PREVENTIONS is summarized in a tabular-format and this forms the crux of the MAINTENANCE and REHABILITATION exercise, followed by the most revealing INFORMATION regarding WEIGHTAGE of PROBABLE CAUSES of DAMAGE IN DIFFERENT BRIDGE-ELEMENTS!! The last two Chapters cover the all-too important 'NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING' and "SYSTEMS and STRATEGIES for the MAINTENANCE and REHABILITATION of CABLE-STAYED SUPERSTRUCTURES" - each in an UNPARALLELED WORKMAN-LIKE DETAIL.
About the Author
"Team Leader of the UN Team-of-Experts for over 10 years for multi-Billion USD Highways-&-Bridges Projects in the Middle east, Ph.D. and D.I.C. from the Imperial College, University of London, England, Double GOLD Medallist at the Eng. Graduation, Registered Chartered Engineer in the UK and Europe, Registered Professional Engineer in Ontario, Canada, Consultant and Senior Expert for nearly 17 years with The UN, The World Bank and The African Development Bank, Senior Technical Advisor to many Govts. and States, Dr. V.K. Raina is also Professor-Emeritus, Life-time Achievement Awardee in Civil Engineering in the fields of BRIDGE: Design, Construction, and Rehabilitation-and-Retrofitting, and recipient of the coveted S.B. Joshi Award of Excellence in Bridge Engineering.
.....He has professionally worked in over 22 Countries and trained hundreds of Engineers in the above fields, and has DESIGNED and SUPERVISED CONSTRUCTION of over 110,000 lane-meters of CONCRETE BRIDGES in different countries on various types of foundations in different substrata conditions [in POST-TENSIONED and PRE-TENSIONED PRESTRESSED Concrete, and REINFORCED concrete, Straight / Skew / Curved - Continuous, Semi-Continuous and Determinate - Superstructures (voided slabs, boxes, beams-and-slab), constructed segmentally, in-place or precast in place / launched; on caisson / pile / open foundations].
....Including this Book, Dr. Raina has authored 16 professional Reference-class Treatises, and over 100 Professional Technical PAPERS and ADVISORIES.
....He has INVESTIGATED the STRUCTURAL and FORENSIC HEALTH of many Bridges - and Retrofitted many - in various Countries: RATU, SHIVA GANGA, JHARAI and other Bridges in Nepal, MAHAD in Maharashtra, TALLAH and VIVEKANANDA Flyovers in Kolkata, SUKTEL in Odisha, KATNI in M.P., being only a few examples at random.
