| Abstract: | Elster bridge near by Osendorf – a hot‐dip galvanized composite bridge with external reinforcement. The viaduct over the river Elster next to Osendorf is the first bridge project using the VFT‐WIB construction method in Germany with a hot‐dip galvanized steel structure. The fatigue resistance of the steel structure under dynamic loads was already clarified on the basis of several research projects. The construction method is suitable to protect the steel by hot‐dip galvanizing. The external reinforcement made out of halved rolled sections contains only a small ratio of residual stresses. The steel girders are easy to handle with a length up to 16 m. The Osendorf bridge project figures out the economic feasibility of the hot‐dip galvanizing due to quality, costs, maintenance. |
