Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Project Prioritization For Near-Optimal Functionality Risk Reduction In Bridge Networks, David Y. Yang, Anteneh Deriba

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bridge retrofit prioritization is commonly guided by structural vulnerability, traffic conditions, or indirect consequences following a single bridge failure. However, these metrics often fail to identify retrofit projects that maximally reduce system-level functionality risk, because they do not account for the consequences of joint failures among multiple bridges. This presentation develops a mathematically rigorous, gradient-based approach to bridge retrofit prioritization for achieving a near-optimal reduction in functionality risk. This risk is formulated as the expected increase in total travel time given probabilistic bridge survival or failure under external stressors such as earthquakes. By reinterpreting risk as the evidence term in …

Evaluating The Response Of Ageing Rc Bridge Piers To The 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Using Bouc-Wen Hysteretic Models, Negin Fayaz, S. Kocakaplan Sezgin, E. Ahmadi, M. M. Kashani, M. Zaker Esteghamati

Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Research

This study examines the seismic response of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers subjected to ground motion (GM) records from the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake by comparing the impact of pulse-like versus no-pulse records. A suite of 300 nonlinear Bouc-Wen hysteretic models was developed to represent piers with varying nonlinear behavior. Each Bouc-Wen model was assessed under 24 pulse-like and 28 no-pulse GMs, resulting in 15,600 nonlinear time-history simulations. Subsequently, the relationship between Bouc-Wen parameters (i.e., period and yield displacement) and seismic responses (i.e., maximum displacement, residual displacement, and maximum acceleration) was analyzed. The results show that pulse-like records produce 5 times …

Steel-Concrete Composite Girder Experiments To Isolate Interface Load Transfer Effects On Stud Fatigue Life, Marc Crespi Hromcova

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Metal fatigue resulting from repeated loading is a primary limit state that affects the quantity of headed shear studs required in the composite design of steel bridge girders. While concrete-deck-to-steel-superstructure load transfer is only considered through stud bearing in the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design standards, friction and interface interlocking effects may also contribute. This study aims to experimentally quantify the effect of interface conditions on the fatigue life of headed studs within composite girders. In this study, two full-scale composite girder specimens having the same geometry and material properties are tested with two interface conditions. …

Framework And Methodology For Risk-Based Bridge And Tunnel Asset Management: Risk-Based Asset Ranking And Corridor Prioritization, David Y. Yang, Arash Khosravifar, Diane Moug, Avinash Unnikrishnan

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report presents the results of Phase II of the project, "Framework and Methodology for Risk-based Bridge and Tunnel Asset Management". The research was carried out at Portland State University in collaboration with engineers and officials at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Using the framework and methodology developed in Phase I of the project, the primary goal of Phase II is to showcase the practical application in risk-based asset management. In particular, the report includes the following two case studies: Case Study I — Weighted hazard scenarios for seismic risk assessment of Oregon Highway …

Proceedings Of The 33rd United States – Japan Bridge Engineering Workshop, David Y. Yang

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report summarizes the 33rd United States–Japan Bridge Engineering Workshop, an event that convenes bridge engineers from both countries. The workshop serves as a platform to exchange innovative ideas and technologies, as well as to share crucial knowledge and lessons learned, all with the aim of advancing bridge engineering. The 33rd workshop specifically addressed transportation asset management and seismic retrofitting, two subjects of increasing importance to both the United States and Japan. The report details the workshop's discussions on topics relevant to bridge engineers.

Failure Analysis Of Prestressed Concrete Girder Bridges Under Over-Height Truck Impacts, Mohamed T. Elshazli, Mohamed Elgawady, Tao Xing, Ahmed Ibrahim

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accidental collisions between over-height trucks and bridge superstructures are a common threat to existing bridge infrastructure. These incidents often stem from illegal over-height vehicles or truck operators' unawareness of clearance limits, posing serious safety risks and causing substantial structural damage. This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of the dynamic response of prestressed concrete girder bridges subjected to over-height truck impacts. Large-scale finite element models were developed in LS-DYNA, with validation conducted against experimental results. The parametric study explored impact speeds ranging from 16 to 113 km/h (10 to 70 mph), impactor masses between 2 and 6 tons, impact locations, …

Risk-Based Methodology For Structural Evaluation Of Bridge-Sized Culverts, David Yang, Kevin White, Timothy Wood

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report presents the results of the project sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), “Risk Based Methodology for Structural Evaluation of Bridge-Sized Culverts”. The goal of this project was to develop general methodology to (a) quantify uncertainty, especially live load uncertainty, unique to bridge-sized RC box culverts and (b) analyze and calibrate reliability of culverts rated under different rating loads. Over 344 combinations of culvert designs and backfill depths were analyzed based on the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation as well as the three-dimensional finite element models (FEMs) of the soil-culvert systems. For each combination, a wide range of …

The State Of The City's Bridges, Leo G. Miranda

Capstones

An analysis by NYCity News Service of 2024 federal bridge inspection found that 118 segments of city bridges are in poor condition, around 8% of all bridges citywide. Among these are segments of major highways and bridges like the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, FDR Drive, Harlem River Drive, Grand Central Parkway and even a part of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. On a single stretch of highway, where the Grand Central Parkway and the Whitestone Expressway meet in Queens, there are seven parts of highway or ramps in poor condition.

Bridge segments can be any raised roadway that passes over another parkway, …

Framework And Methodology For Risk-Based Bridge And Tunnel Asset Management: Objective Risk Assessment And Network Level Evaluation, David Y. Yang, Arash Khosravifar, Diane Moug, Avinash Unnikrishnan

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report presents the results of the project on establishing a general framework and methodology for risk-based bridge and tunnel asset management. The research was carried out at Portland State University in collaboration with engineers and officials at Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The primary goal of the research is to achieve risk-based transportation asset management based on (a) objective and consistent risk assessment and (b) effective prioritization and optimization of intervention strategies. Volume I of this report presents methods and findings in the base phase (Phase I) of the project, which is focused on …

Evaluating 1d And 2d Small-Strain Ground Response Analyses At The I-15 Downhole Array Using Recorded Aftershocks From The M5.7 2020 Magna, Utah Earthquake, Tyler S. Jackson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

As earthquake waves exit rock and travel up through softer subsurface strata on their way to the surface, the intensity of ground shaking is significantly influenced by the subsurface soil layering and often increases in areas with deeper, softer soil deposits. The soft soils present in Utah’s valleys, deposited during the era of Lake Bonneville, tend to amplify the energy and intensity of ground motion felt by people and structures alike. Thus, the first step to designing earthquake resilient infrastructure in Utah is understanding how the subsurface soil layers amplify and/or attenuate ground motions induced by an earthquake. Methods used …

Comprehensive Numerical Modeling Of Prestressed Girder Bridges Under Low-Velocity Impact, Mohamed T. Elshazli, Mohanad M. Abdulazeez, Mohamed Elgawady, Ahmed Ibrahim

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accidental Collisions Involving Over-Height Trucks That Exceed Vertical Clearance Limits And Bridge Superstructures Frequently Happen, Resulting In Compromised Girders And Potential Threats To Structural Safety And Performance. The Numerical Simulation Of Large-Scale Prestressed Girder Bridge Collisions Poses Challenges Due To The Associated Nonlinearities, As Well As The Limited Availability Of Large-Scale Experimental Testing Data In The Literature Due To Cost And Complexity Constraints. This Study Introduces A Numerical Modeling Approach To Efficiently Capture The Response Of Prestressed Girder Bridges Under Lateral Impact Loads. A Finite Element (FE) Model Was Developed Using LS-DYNA And Meticulously Validated Against Experimental Data From The …

A Practical Framework For Component-Level Structural Health Monitoring Of The Gerald Desmond Bridge, Mehran Rahmani, Vesna Terzic, Andrea Calabrese, Brittany Cambell

Mineta Transportation Institute

Bridges serve as critical transportation infrastructure, but traditional maintenance inspection to ensure their safety is time-consuming, costly, and labor-intensive, especially for larger and more complex structures. This study presents a practical framework for the instrumentation, data acquisition, and remote condition assessment of the Gerald Desmond Bridge, California’s largest cable-stayed bridge. The framework aims to establish a foundation for real-time or near real-time remote health monitoring of the bridge’s critical elements. The study highlights the advantages of remote monitoring in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and early detection of damage.

Structural Performance And Resiliency Of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Pier Columns, Multi-Column Piers, And Bridge Systems Subjected To Multiple Hazards – Fire, Collision, And Air Blast, Qusai Abdulkarim Alomari

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Given their close proximity to traffic and improper employment of protective systems, bridges and bridge piers are vulnerable to multi-hazard events triggered by vehicle collisions coupled with correlated and cascading events, such as explosions and fires. Despite recent catastrophic incidents that have highlighted the profound consequences of these extreme demands, including substantial damage, adverse economic impact, and loss of life, there has been a notable lack of research investigating the performance of bridges and bridge structural components under the aforementioned multi-hazards. Furthermore, current bridge design codes do not address these events assuming that, after these destructive events, replacement of the …

Inspection Training Course On Bridge Preventive Maintenance Activities, Danny Wells, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Despite over 30 percent of bridges in the United States having exceeded their 50-year design lives, most state departments of transportation (DOTs) lack the funding needed to replace bridges on a large scale. In response, agencies have increasingly turned to bridge preventive maintenance activities to prolong bridge service lives. These activities provide a safe and cost-effective way to slow the rate at which structures deteriorate, mitigate the effects of aging, and improve bridge functional condition. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has become increasingly reliant on preventive maintenance to preserve and extend the service lives of its steel and concrete bridges. …

Enhancing Construction Safety Training Of Bridges Using Augmented Reality And Virtual Reality, Mohamed Sherif Elrifaee

Theses and Dissertations

Infrastructure development projects are widely acknowledged as some of the most complex and challenging projects to undertake. The construction of bridges, in particular, has proven to be a significant safety risk for workers, with a considerable number of accidents reported on construction sites. There is a lack of comprehensive training programs specifically designed for bridge construction safety, and only a few studies have explored the use of both AR and VR to enhance safety training in construction. As such, this research aims to improve the safety of bridge construction sites through the implementation of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality …

Field Reconnaissance And Observations From The February 6, 2023, Turkey Earthquake Sequence, Gulen Ozkula, Robert K. Dowell, Tugce Baser, Jui Liang Lin, Ozgun A. Numanoglu, Okan Ilhan, C. Guney Olgun, Cheng Wei Huang, Tunc Deniz Uludag

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

On February 6, 2023, a sequence of earthquakes hit Kahraman Maras, Turkey, with magnitudes of M w = 7.8 and 7.5, at 4:17 am and 1:24 pm local time, respectively. According to the records, the M w = 7.8 event was the biggest earthquake since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake of the same magnitude and second-strongest recorded after the 1668 North Anatolia Earthquake. However, it was the most devastating earthquake in the history of Turkey in terms of structural and geotechnical damage and fatalities caused by this. The objective of this article is to explore the aftermath of this major seismic …

Numerical Simulation Of Hydrodynamic Forces On Riverine And Coastal Bridges Subjected To Extreme Weather Events, Fahad Pervaiz

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

ABSTRACT: Recent bridge failures due to hurricane-generated storm surges and riverine flood events have highlighted the vulnerability of bridge infrastructure to extreme hydrodynamic loading. In addition to posing an immediate risk to human life, bridge failures can hinder evacuation planning and emergency response efforts. Changes in flood frequency and intensity due to climate change and urbanization may alter the hydrodynamic conditions along urban streams, further stressing bridge infrastructure designed based on historical flow conditions. As a result, quantifying the structural response and stability of bridges under current and future hydrodynamic conditions is crucial to improving transportation safety and efficiency. This …

Steel Bridge Coating Inventory For 2022, Christopher Goff, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has replaced the lead-based coatings on many of its steel bridges over the past 30 years. In the 1980s and 1990s, inorganic zinc primers with vinyl topcoats were the go-to option for coating replacement projects. Since 2000, the typical choice for these projects has been organic zinc primers that are part of a two- or three-coat system. Some of these coatings have localized failures in high-stress areas. KYTC’s current inventory of steel bridges numbers over 1,100 structures. Accounting for expected service lives, to properly maintain protective coatings on these bridges will require the Cabinet to …

Analyzing Vulnerabilities In The Northwest Arkansas Highway Network Using Mathematical Optimization, Brandon Jerome

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The highway and bridge network is a critical infrastructure that allows for the free transportation of citizens and enables truck-borne freight transportation. Disruption of this system could be caused by a terrorist attack, natural disaster, growth of population, required repairs and upgrades, or collapse caused by old age or malfunction. In the event of a disruption cities and regions can experience increased traffic and supply chain shortages, thus causing cascading effects throughout surrounding areas. With this motivation, we develop a network interdiction optimization model to identify a limited subset of roads that, if disrupted, causes the greatest increase in the …

Estimating The As-Placed Grout Volume Of Auger Cast Piles, Tristen Mee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Augered Cast-in-Place (ACIP) piles are a geotechnical foundation element increasingly used to support large publicly funded structures as an alternative to drilled shafts or driven piles. ACIP piles are constructed by drilling an excavation to the full length of the designed pile with a continuous flight auger. Grout (cement, sand, and water mixture) is then pumped through the hollow auger stem to begin grouting the excavation. After establishing an initial head pressure, the auger is slowly extracted while the remainder of the pile is grouted. Once the auger is completely removed, the steel reinforcement cage is lowered into the grouted …

Comparative Analysis Of Bridge Abutment Types, David Fell

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project was developed to serve as a brief overview of design practices and considerations in the selection of highway bridge abutment types. This involved a review of literature in the form of reviewing national design guides and department of transportation (DOT) requirements from both US DOTs and international DOTs. The abutment types covered in this research included conventional reinforced concrete abutments with bearings, integral abutments, and semi-integral abutments. This research focused solely on highway bridge abutments, particularly on Ohio Department of Transportation design requirements due to their extensive use of semi-integral abutments. Superstructure elements and geometric requirements are primary …

Assessment Of Deteriorated Structural Concrete To Provide Durable Repairs, Theodore Hopwood, Christopher Goff, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Most of the structural elements on Kentucky bridges are made of reinforced concrete. Many of these elements deteriorate as a result of corrosion of the reinforcing steel caused by carbonation and — primarily — applications of chlorides by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). Corrosion of reinforcing steel is reviewed along with assessment procedures that leverage nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods and related laboratory and field tests. Several maintenance procedures are discussed, including the application of sealers and coatings, patch and major concrete repairs, and electrochemical methods. Incorporating NDE and test results into maintenance procedure selection is discussed. Recommendations are provided on …

Reliability Of Sfrp-Strengthened Rc Bridge Columns Subjected To Blast Loads, Ahmad Alsendi, Christopher D. Eamon

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Publications

The reliability of reinforced concrete bridge columns strengthened with externally bonded, steel-fiber reinforced polymer fabric subjected to blast loads was investigated. Columns were modeled with a nonlinear finite element approach that considers material damage, fracture, and separation. Different concrete strengths, longitudinal reinforcement ratios, and gravity and blast load levels were considered, while uncertainties in material strength and stiffness parameters, as well as load characteristics, were incorporated in the probabilistic analysis. It was found that the use of SFRP can allow significant increases in blast load while maintaining the same level of column reliability.

Low-Cost Modal Identification Sensors For Bridge Field Testing, Daniel Linzell, Saaed Eftekhar Azam, Samira Ardani, Ahmed E Rageh

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This report provides a framework for experimental load rating of bridges via inclusion of low-cost dynamic sensors and dynamic tests. Currently 25% of the bridges in Nebraska are posted for live load. According to the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) in 2012, 93% of all postings in the US were based analytical load ratings, 7% were posted using field evaluation and engineering judgement, and 1% were posted using experimental load rating methods.

Instrumentation costs and traffic interruptions can be problematic when load testing is necessary to accurately assess in-situ bridge live load capacity. Recent advances in (i) sensing technology and (ii) …

Effectiveness Of Seismic Bearings On A Typical Isolated Two-Column Rc Bridge Pier Located In North Mississippi, Hemant Raj Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The 2020 ASCE infrastructure report card has assigned a letter grade of D- for bridges in Mississippi based on poor to fair condition ratings with many approaching the end of their useful service lives. Bridges in northern Mississippi lie up to 100 miles from the New Madrid Fault and fall into the Region 3 Seismic Performance Category defined by AASHTO. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of commercially available bridge bearings on a common bridge pier type used in northern MS under the combined action of superstructure gravity and lateral seismic loads. The use of …

Laboratory Study Of Hydrodynamics Of Submerged Bridges, Max Thomson Dean

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Bridges are designed to withstand flood and debris loads; however, it is reported that 53% of bridge failures in the U.S. are caused by hydraulic events, including floods, scour, debris, and drifts. A series of scale flume experiments were conducted to determine flood force effects on bridge superstructures. 1:50 scale models of the Texas Department of Transportation’s typical reinforced concrete bridge superstructures were tested. The bridge superstructures included beams (TX28 and TX54 girders, slab beams, and box beams) and an accompanying bridge deck and railing. The drag and lift forces and overturning moments were measured by load sensors for various …

Determination Of Steels In Kentucky Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Christopher Goff, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) maintains over two hundred steel bridges constructed with types of steel which are unknown. Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) researchers have developed a procedure for determining steel tensile properties (0.2% yield strength and ultimate tensile strength) which can be used to help identify unknown steels. The procedure involves extracting small coupons from the lower flanges of steel deck girder bridges. Coupons are then machined into sub-sized tensile testing specimens and suitable shapes for chemical analyses. Sub-sized tensile tests returned values generally comparable to those provided in mill certifications of steels purchased for laboratory trials. Several analytical …

Current State And Prospects Of Construction Of High-Speed Railway Overpasses In Seismic Conditions Of The Republic Of Uzbekistan, Ulugbek Zabixullayevich Shermuxamedov, Saidxon Salixanovich Salixanov

Journal of Tashkent Institute of Railway Engineers

The article deals with the issues of seismic stability of high-speed railway overpasses in the Republic of Uzbekistan, taking into account the experience of their design and construction in developed foreign countries. A review of technical solutions to ensure the seismic stability of overpasses and bridges located on high-speed and high-speed Railways in the world and in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Features of ensuring seismic stability of bridges and overpasses on high-speed lines are given.

Quantitative Resistance Assessment Of Sfrp-Strengthened Rc Bridge Columns Subjected To Blast Loads, Ahmad Alsendi, Christopher D. Eamon

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Publications

The blast resistance of a typical reinforced concrete bridge pier column design was modeled with a nonlinear finite element approach that considers material damage, fracture, and separation. While varying concrete strength, amount of longitudinal reinforcing steel, and gravity load, the effect of applying an externally bonded steel fiber reinforced polymer (SFRP) wrapping was assessed. The presented approach uniquely quantifies column blast resistance in terms of charge weight. It was found that blast capacity was roughly linearly related to concrete strength and steel reinforcement ratio, the former of which is most influential. It was further found that a single layer of …

A Bridge-Rehabilitation Strategy Based On The Analysis Of A Bridge-Inspection Data Set, Liam Dromey, Kieran Ruane, John J. Murphy, Brian O'Rourke, Seán Lacey

Publications

Bridge-management systems (BMSs) allow bridge owners to assess the condition of their bridge stock. However, not all BMS packages have the capability to formulate network-level bridge-rehabilitation investment strategies. This research has developed a decision-support system for bridge owners in the selection of the best strategy for bridge rehabilitation at the network level. The basis of the research is an available data set of 1367 bridge-inspection records for County Cork, Ireland, that has been prepared to the Eirspan BMS inspection standard. The developed system consists of a project-prioritisation procedure that builds on previous research, a methodology for the calculation of a …