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Aurora Arch Bridge - Confined Concrete System Speeds Construction Of Walkway Span, Christopher Tuan

Christopher Y. Tuan

The 30-m-long, single-span, pedestrian arch bridge under construction over Lincoln Creek in Aurora, NE, combines the best attributes of concrete, steel, and fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP), and is a type that is easily constructed, durable, and strong. Swooping top chords formed from concrete-filled steel tubes define the prominent design features of this bridge. Its straight bottom chords are post-tensioned concrete-filled steel tubes. In turn, FRP honeycomb panels form its bridge deck. By incorporating confined concrete, designers enhanced the strength and ductility of the top and bottom chords of the bridge.

Roca Spur Bridge: The Implementation Of An Innovative Deicing Technology, Christopher Tuan

Christopher Y. Tuan

The heated deck of Roca Spur Bridge is the first implementation in the world using conductive concrete for deicing. Conductive concrete is a concrete mix containing a certain amount of electrically conductive components in a regular concrete matrix, designed to enable conduction of electricity. Due to its electrical resistance, conductive concrete can generate enough heat to prevent ice formation on a paved surface when connected to a power source.

Implementation Of Conductive Concrete Overlay For Bridge Deck Deicing At Roca, Nebraska, Christopher Y. Tuan, Sherif A. Yehia

Christopher Y. Tuan

Conductive concrete is a relatively new material technology developed to achieve high electrical conductivity and high mechanical strength. In research sponsored by Nebraska Department of Roads, a conductive concrete mix specifically for bridge deck deicing was developed. In this application, a conductive concrete overlay is cast on top of a bridge deck for deicing and anti-icing.

This technology has been successfully implemented in a demonstration project at Roca, about 15 mi south of Lincoln, Nebraska. The Roca Spur Bridge has a 36-m (117-ft) long and 8.5- m (28-ft) wide conductive concrete inlay. Temperature sensors and a microprocessor-based controller system were …