Contribution to the Study of Pathologies and the Management of Civil Engineering Structures: Case of The Bafoussam-Makenene Section of The National Road RN4 in Cameroon

Abstract

In industry, and particularly in the field of civil engineering, it is now essential to understand the condition of engineering structures. To effectively assess and evaluate their condition, it is fundamental to analyze the causes of damage throughout their lifespan, which manifest as pathologies. This is all done to establish a diagnosis necessary for decision-making and the determination of maintenance strategies. Therefore, a site survey and inventory, consisting of gathering basic information on the structures, was carried out on the Bafoussam-Makenené section of National Route 4. Following this inventory campaign, an inspection was also conducted on all the engineering structures. Apart from the deterioration observed on the various deck components and the lack of monitoring, the identified structures are in an "acceptable" condition from a structural point of view. Subsequently, Using the Pareto principle, they conducted statistical analyses that allowed them to identify strategic structures requiring enhanced monitoring. They also developed decision-making tools and proposed a flowchart outlining the various steps involved in assessing the condition of a bridge. Finally, the overall work clearly demonstrated the need to assess the condition of the engineering structures along the Ndé River bridge – Mlem River bridge route on the Bafoussam-Makenené section of National Route 4 (RN4).