The Initial Rotational Stiffness of Connections on the Bridge Structures

The calculation of the initial rotational stiffness of bridge connection is immensely important element of calculations. Generally, railway bridges are more than 60 years old. These bridges are still burdened by train traffic. The diagnostic of bridges is necessary to safety functioning. The connections are critical point. Their correct calculation is essential for the administration to determine their service life and load capacity. It is the initial rotational stiffness that allows the connections to be modelled so that they capture reality as much as possible. Unfortunately, the procedure in the Eurocode is not clear. The calculation is defined only for building, not horizontal structures such as bridges