Engineering structures

These structures are subject to permanent constraints:

• Structural constraints enabling the work to stand
• Traffic and circulation constraints
• Climatic constraints: heat, humidity, wind, currents
• Seismic constraints
  Faced with these constraints, metal evolves and its mechanical properties are also modified.

On-site daignostics and expertise

For engineering works, A-CORROS provides an assessment the structural integrity and characterisation of the metal and the anticorrosion coating.

On-site, our interventions include :

• Extensive photographic and video documentation of the elements of the structure and any corrosion pathologies encountered
• Non-destructive measurements residual thickness of the metal and coatings
• Lead diagnostics
• Colorimetric analyses and stratigraphic studies of organic coatings
• Coating adhesion tests
• Sampling of elements of assemblages for laboratory analysis

Laboratory analysis

Following on-site diagnostics, and thanks to our network of partners like the LERM in Arles, measurements and analyses are conducted in the laboratory in order to determine the nature of the materials, mechanical characteristics and weldability.

• Microstructure and metallographic analyses : preparation of samples, polishing, chemical etching, examination with a binocular magnifying glass and by optical and scanning electron microscopy.
• Characterisation of metals : spark spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence, mechanical testing, weldability studies.
• Characterisation of coatings : number of layers, layer types, colours of the layers and chemical compatibility with the future protection system in collaboration with SIM.
• Mechanical testing : tensile, fatigue and bending tests in collaboration with I.S.I and ECCI.
• Synthesis report and recommendations integrating the conclusions of the study and the recommendations for active corrosion protection (cathodic protection) or passive (coatings).

Lead and asbestos characterisation of the paint on a bridge