Head of the project: Ing. Kraľovanec Jakub, PhD.

Research team: doc. Ing. Odrobiňák Jaroslav, PhD.

Duration: September 2022 – August 2023

The most important and especially the most useful output from the project will be the real application of knowledge on real bridges in practice, because only applicable knowledge can be considered truly beneficial in this area. The obtained outputs of the project will be the basis for scientific publications - min. one publication in an impactful scientific journal with a quartile of at least Q2 (according to the Web of Science database) and publications and participation in scientific conferences, the proceedings of which will be indexed in the Scopus or Web of Science databases. The grant project will enable research in the area of indirect determination of the value of the residual prestressing force, which is very relevant in view of the recent accidents of post-tensioned bridges of the first generation. These bridges were built in the middle of the 20th century in the former Czechoslovakia, so they are nearing the end of their useful life. For these reasons, the proposed project is focused on an area that ultimately affects our entire society. As part of the research, several types of prestressed concrete samples will be examined. Specifically, it will be post-tensioned prefabricated beams, concrete beams and pre-tensioned railway sleepers. All these samples are chosen as suitable examples of rod (beam) constructions. The performed experiments will be aimed at verifying several indirect methods for determining the residual prestress, the knowledge of which is a key knowledge in the static assessment of existing prestressed concrete bridges and structures. Numerical simulations and experimental measurements will be part of the verification, while the synergy of these two analyzes is essential in any research in this area.