Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter gives an overview of the significant concepts associated with the management of ageing bridges. It discusses the various levels of failure, from what might appear to be relatively trivial occurrences, through to a catastrophic collapse. The former should be considered as pre-cursor events, and the chapter outlines the need to recognise that these may lead to progressive deterioration or even collapse, if not given the appropriate attention. The consequences of a bridge failure are also introduced, not only in terms of fatalities and serious injuries but also wider social and economic impacts. A key tenet of the book, the importance of investigating and reporting failures so that lessons can be shared for the benefit of others, is also included. This topic, as well as issues such as risk and engineering ethics, are given here as appetisers for later chapters.