Abstract
A huge number of steel bridges were constructed in Japan during the period of high economic growth from the 1950s to the 1970s. As these bridges age, deterioration and damage resulting from heavy traffic and the effects of the natural environment are also increasing rapidly. Improved techniques related to inspection, diagnosis, repair, reinforcement and appropriate maintenance of such bridges are urgently needed. In the case of steel truss bridges, serious corrosion damage has been reported recently, especially on diagonal members and at gusset plate connections. In this study, detailed corrosion profiles of four gusset plate connections removed from a dismantled steel truss bridge are obtained using laser measurement equipment. The corrosion state of the connections is evaluated on the basis of the corrosion depth distribution over their surfaces．
