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Institute for Testing, Assessment and Repair of Structures , Novi Sad , Serbia
Institute for Testing, Assessment and Repair of Structures , Novi Sad , Serbia
Before any strengthening, repair, reconstruction or adaptation of an existing structure can begin, engineers face one of the most demanding tasks in practice: establishing its true condition. Structural assessment is far more than a routine inspection - it is an investigative process combining field observation, testing, material science, structural analysis and engineering judgement to interpret incomplete or hidden evidence. The reliability of every subsequent intervention depends directly on how accurately this initial step is performed. The paper discusses why structural assessment is inherently complex, what makes it demanding in practice, and why it represents the foundation of every informed engineering decision on existing structures, illustrated through practical examples from bridges, buildings and other engineering structures.
structural assessment, structural diagnostics, existing structures, non-destructive testing, engineering judgement
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