Bloomberg Green Daily: Bridges Damaged By Increasing Heat Extremes

Bridge materials expand and contract in response to temperature fluctuations. While most are equipped with features to accommodate that movement, they were designed to withstand historically cooler temperatures, says Paul Chinowsky, professor of civil engineering at the U of Colorado Boulder. When temperatures hit a record high, bridges might behave in ways that engineers didn’t intend them to, he adds. Heat-swollen steel joints can impair the mobility of a swing bridge, making it unable to open or close — at least temporarily. Concrete also expands under heat. Once its expansion goes beyond a bridge’s original design limit, the concrete can crack, exposing it to moisture that can corrode internal metal components. Paywall HERE 🙁