The Wieselburg Bridge collapse—Analysis of the shear capacity based on forensic data

Abstract

This paper describes the structural aspects of the Wieselburg Bridge collapse in Austria. The original design and reinforcing details for this integral concrete bridge are discussed. The collapse of the bridge is re-constructed based on forensic documentation of the failure. The results of structural analysis carried out using material properties obtained after failure are compared to the shear capacity obtained from various models and from test results from literature. The results are used to explain the cause of failure of the integral bridge under dead load.