PSI - Issue 72

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ScienceDirect

Procedia Structural Integrity 72 (2025) 5–12

12th Annual Conference of Society for Structural Integrity and Life (DIVK12) Impact of biodeterioration on the durability of the historical bridge of Mehmed Pasha Sokolović in Višegrad Vera Vujović a, ** a Ecological Association for environmental protection DRIN- Tim, Radnička 35, Podgorica, 81000 Abstract The Mehmed Pasha Sokolović Bridge over the Drina River in Višegrad was built in the Ottoman period from 1571 -1577. Because of its exceptional importance and value, it requires constant commitment to permanent protection. Bridge closed to traffic in 2003. due to its poor condition. The World Monuments Fund registered it as an endangered world site in 2005, and since 2007. it has been on the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage sites. In the period from 2007-2016, in cooperation with the Government of Turkey, activities were carried out and the bridge was reconstructed. Case Study - Mehmed Pasha Sokolović Bridge (2016-2018) developed as a decision-making and planning platform for the Ecological Association for Environmental Protection DRIN- Team from Višegrad. The concept of the Case Study based on the Bridge Management Plan (2003. - 2005.). The aim of the Case Study is to help identify strategic guidelines for improving bridge maintenance and monitoring management with the application of new technologies, especially from the aspect of Durability and Service Life extension. In addition, Case Study may be used to create a business plan and apply for possible donations and grants. The latest research relates to the effects of biodeterioration (algae, mosses, lichens, fungi, etc.) on joints between stone blocks, stone material and concrete parts of the bridge, in addition to the effect of the Višegrad and Bajina Bašta hydroelectric power plants, the effect of seismicit y, vibrations, moisture, air pollution, pile wood rotting, constant water level changes etc. © 2026 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review under responsibility of Aleksandar Sedmak, Branislav Djordjevic, Simon Sedmak Dr. Simon Sedmak, ssedmak@mas.bg.ac.rs, Innovation Center of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade, Serbia Keywords: Bridge; historical; stone; biodeterioration; strategy

* Vera Vujović. Tel.: +382 -69-370-359; fax. E-mail address: veravujovic10@gmail.com

2452-3216 © 2026 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review under responsibility of Aleksandar Sedmak, Branislav Djordjevic, Simon Sedmak Dr. Simon Sedmak, ssedmak@mas.bg.ac.rs, Innovation Center of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade, Serbia 10.1016/j.prostr.2025.08.067