Engineering Commons^™

Design Mentoring Tool, Bob Mccullouch, Walter Land

JTRP Technical Reports

In 2004 a design engineer on-line mentoring tool was developed and implemented The purpose of the tool was to assist senior engineers mentoring new engineers to the INDOT design process and improve their technical competency. This approach saves senior engineers time while developing a consistent mentoring approach and standardizing technical knowledge in road and bridge design. It is a self-guided tool that utilizes multi-media and web-based technologies, trains engineers in the design process and provides resources to use for developing plans and specifications. Available resources include INDOT design practices, design standards, design memos, specification and construction standards, procedures, and check …

Fatigue Strength Of Steel Bridge Members With Intersecting Welds, David T. Delong, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

The brittle fracture of the Hoan Bridge in December 2000 highlighted the fracture susceptibility of details containing intersecting welds in steel bridges. Though it is now known that details with intersecting welds should be avoided, many existing bridges in Indiana contain details with intersecting welds. Little experimental data on the fatigue performance of these details exists.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fatigue strength of several details commonly found in steel bridges in Indiana that contain intersecting welds. Large-scale experimental fatigue testing were performed using nine steel beams to study the behavior of three basic types of …

Earthquake Resistance Of Integral Abutment Bridges, Robert J. Frosch, Michael E. Kreger, Aaron M. Talbott

JTRP Technical Reports

intermediate length bridges. Integral abutment construction eliminates joints and bearings which reduce long-term maintenance costs. However, in the absence of joints and bearings, the bridge abutments and foundations must be able to accommodate lateral movements from thermal expansion and contraction of the superstructure and from seismic events. Previous research has focused on the response to thermal expansion and contraction. The current research examines the response of integral abutment bridges to seismic loading. A field investigation was conducted to examine the response of an integral abutment to lateral loading from thermal expansion and contraction. The results were used to calibrate analytical …

Long-Term Effects Of Super Heavy-Weight Vehicles On Bridges, Scott M. Wood, Necip Onder Akinci, Judy Liu, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

A permit truck which exceeds the predefined limit of 108 kips is defined as a superload in Indiana. This study was conducted to examine the long-term effects of superload trucks on the performance of typical slab-on-girder bridges and to assess the likelihood of causing immediate damage. Typical steel and prestressed concrete slab-on-girder type bridges were analyzed using both beam line analysis and detailed finite element models. Furthermore, one prestressed concrete bridge and one steel bridge were instrumented using more than 50 sensors each. Strains and deflections were measured during a live load test, and each bridge was monitored for more …

Jointless And Smoother Bridges: Behavior And Design Of Piles, Robert J. Frosch, Voraniti Chovichien, Katrinna Durbin, David Fedroff

JTRP Technical Reports

Integral abutment bridges have been used in the United States for decades. By eliminating expensive expansion joints, the piles supporting the end bent accommodate the total thermal movement of the bridge. Currently, integral bridges are designed based upon experience, and a rational design specification has not been developed. Furthermore, the interaction of the abutment, pile, and soil remains uncertain. A better understanding regarding the behavior of this system is needed. The objective of this research is to evaluate the behavior of the integral abutment-pile system and evaluate any limitations of its use. To achieve this objective, two phases of research …

Fatigue Of Older Bridges In Northern Indiana Due To Overweight And Oversized Loads, Volume 1: Bridge And Weigh-In-Motion Measurements, James A. Reisert, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

This report is the first of a two-volume final report presenting the findings of the research work that was undertaken to evaluate the fatigue behavior of steel highway bridges on the extra heavy weight truck corridor in Northwest Indiana. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the type and magnitude of the loads that travel along the corridor and then assess the effect of those loads on the fatigue strength of the steel bridge structures on the corridor. This volume presents the results of the experimental field study conducted to evaluate the load and load effects on one steel …

Fatigue Behavior Of Beam Diaphragm Connections With Intermittent Fillet Welds, Part I, Volume 1, Field Evaluation, Tammy L. Canna, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

This report is the first of a two-part, three volume final report presenting the findings of the research work that was undertaken to evaluate the behavior of Indiana highway bridges with diaphragm members welded directly to the web of the primary beams and girders. Fatigue cracks have been observed at several bridges that utilize the welded diaphragm connection. The seriousness of the cracking and the corresponding potential risk on the integrity of the bridge superstructure were assessed. Inspection and repair guidelines for bridges with the welded diaphragm connections were also developed as part of the research effort. This volume presents …

Fatigue Behavior Of Beam Diaphragm Connections With Intermittent Fillet Welds, Part I, Volume 2, Laboratory Fatigue Evaluation, Amy S. Barth, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

This report is the second of a two-part, three volume final report presenting the findings of the research work that was undertaken to evaluate the behavior of Indiana highway bridges with diaphragm members welded directly to the web of the primary beams and girders. Fatigue cracks have been observed at several bridges that utilize the welded diaphragm connection. The seriousness of the cracking and the corresponding potential risk on the integrity of the bridge superstructure were assessed. Inspection and repair guidelines for bridges with the welded diaphragm connections were also developed as part of the research effort. This volume presents …

The Examination Of Infra-Red Techniques For Inspection Of Steel Structures I & Ii, Vachirapun Trakulyingyong, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

Infra-red thermography systems that have been developed over the last few years offer great potential to locate and discover flaws in steel highway bridge structures at a relatively early stage in their development. Under ideal conditions, the use of infra-red instrumentation should allow bridge inspection personnel to rapidly scan the structure and determine if a potential structural problem has developed. If a problem spot is located by the infra-red camera, then the trouble spot can be examined carefully to determine the need for corrective maintenance. The primary purpose of this research study is to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of …

Fatigue Behavior Of Beam Diaphragm Connections With Intermittent Fillet Welds: Part Ii, Brittle Fracture Examination Of The I-64 Blue River Bridge, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

This report is the second of a two-part, three volume final report presenting the findings of the research work that was undertaken to evaluate the behavior of Indiana highway bridges with diaphragm members welded directly to the web of the primary beams and girders. Fatigue cracks have been observed at several bridges that utilize the welded diaphragm connection. The seriousness of the cracking and the corresponding potential risk on the integrity of the bridge superstructure were assessed. Inspection and repair guidelines for bridges with the welded diaphragm connections were also developed as part of the research effort. This volume presents …

Analysis And Load Testing Of Two Steel Through Truss Bridges In Indiana, Brian Joseph Malone, Mark A. Heffron, J. A. Ramirez, Donald W. White

JTRP Technical Reports

Results of the load tests of two steel through truss bridges were used to evaluate the assumptions used by BARS for the rating of this type of bridge. Based on the results from this study it is recommended that the Indiana Department of Transportation use the load distribution factors in the 1994 LRFD Specifications in the rating of these bridges. This will imply replacing the load distribution factors currently in BARS. The implementation of the new distribution factors will result in a less conservative rating of the longitudinal beams in this type of bridge. The increase in the allowed moments …