Failure mechanisms of bridge infrastructure in an extreme flood event

The recent flood events in Queensland, Australia had an adverse effect on the country's social and economic growth. It is reported in the recent literature that due to climate change, frequency and intensity of flood events has increased. This research paper focuses on the damage caused by the recent floods in Queensland, on the bridge infrastructure. Bridges affected by 2013 flood in Lockyer Valley region in Western Queensland were selected as a case study. For the damaged bridges, data such as level of damage, material used in these bridges, type of bridge (girder/precast/in-situ), age of the bridge, elevation of the bridge from the mean sea level, annual average daily traffic, class of the bridge, heavy vehicles and inspection data before and after the flood were collected and analysed. The analysis of the case study examined the mode of failure of different types of bridges (Concrete, In situ, pre cast etc.) bridges and established the dominant failure modes. Underlying reasons for observed failure modes were established and strategies to enhance resilience of bridges under flood are proposed.