Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Synthesis Study: Heat Treatment And Its Effects On Rehabilitating Steel Bridges In Indiana, Matthew Lackowski, Amit Varma

JTRP Technical Reports

The literature review of prior heat straightening research indicated that significant research has been conducted on the development of: (i) heat straightening repair techniques and their field implementation, (ii) guidelines and recommendations for heat straightening repair, (iii) empirical procedures for estimating plastic rotations achieved during heat straightening, (iv) empirical procedures for predicting residual stresses caused by heat straightening, and (v) the effects of heat straightening on the structural properties of repaired bridges. Currently, there is a need for additional research on: (a) the fatigue performance of heat straightened beams, (ii) the effects of single and multiple heat straightening on the …

Reliability-Based Optimization Of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Bridge Deck Panels, Michel D. Thompson, Christopher D. Eamon, Masoud Rais-Rohani

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Publications

A reliability-based optimization (RBO) procedure is developed and applied to minimize the weight of eight fiber-reinforced polymer composite bridge deck panel configurations. The method utilizes interlinked finite element, optimization, and reliability analysis procedures to solve the weight minimization problem with a deterministic strength constraint and two probabilistic deflection constraints. Panels are composed of an upper face plate, lower face plate, and a grid of interior stiffeners. Different panel depths and stiffener layouts are considered. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to identify significant design and random variables. Optimization design variables are panel component ply thicknesses while random variables include load and material …

Rapid Bridge Replacement: Processes, Techniques, And Needs For Improvements, Yong Bai, William R. Burkett

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 and subsequent potential threats to the United States transportation systems have presented an urgent need to develop emergency response plans in order to quickly react to the possible consequences of an extreme event. Highway bridges, as critical components of the nation’s transportation network, have received increased attention. To respond to the potential threats on highway bridges, a research project was conducted to identify rapid bridge replacement processes, techniques, and needs for improvements. To achieve the research objectives, the research team studied three cases of previous bridge replacements following extreme events. By studying these …

Seismic Evaluation And Ranking Of Bridge Embankments Along I-24 In Western Kentucky, Wael Zatar, Issam E. Harik, Peng Yuan, Ching Chiaw Choo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study represents one of the Seismic Evaluation of I-24 Bridges investigative series. The focus is on slope or embankment stability and liquefaction potential of embankments of bridges along I-24 in Western Kentucky. A rating system is derived to assist in identifying and prioritizing bridge embankments that are susceptible to failure during to projected seismic events. Embankments of one hundred and twenty seven (127) bridges along I-24 in Western Kentucky are evaluated for 50-year and 250-year seismic events. Fifty-two (52) of the 127 embankments were rated as ‘critical’ for the 50-year event, and 60 were rated as ‘critical’ for the …

Site Investigation Of Bridges Along I-24 In Western Kentucky, Wael Zatar, Issam E. Harik, Peng Yuan

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Determination of the seismic risk of the I-24 bridges requires evaluating the current condition of all individual elements of the bridges. All bridges along the I-24 were visually inspected, pictured, and the records were stored in a database. Data of the visual inspection and the pictures were combined to form the completed site inspection forms of the I-24 bridges. Main visually observed deficiencies of the bridge elements were pointed out. The site inspection forms of all bridges on/over the I-24 in western Kentucky are used together with the bridge inventory to obtain different statistical figures regarding the characteristics of the …

Seismic Evaluation Of The Cumberland River Bridges On I-24 In Western Kentucky, Wael A. Zatar, Wei-Xin Ren, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The main objective of this study is to assess the structural integrity of the I-24 parallel bridges at the Cumberland River crossing in western Kentucky. Due to its importance, the bridge is evaluated for the 250-year event and the maximum credible 500-year event. The scope of the work included: 1) Field testing of the main bridge; 2) Finite element modeling and calibration; 3) Time-history seismic response analysis for the main spans; and 4) Seismic evaluation for both the main and the approach spans. The seismic analysis for the 250-year event indicates that the main spans of the bridge can resist …

Preliminary Seismic Evaluation And Ranking Of Bridges Along I-24 In Western Kentucky, Wael Zatar, Issam E. Harik, Peng Yuan, Ching Chiaw Choo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study represents one of the Seismic Evaluation of I-24 Bridges investigative series. The focus is on preliminary seismic evaluation and ranking of bridges according to their seismic vulnerability. Bridges along I-24 are considered in this investigation. The ranking will assist in identifying and prioritizing bridges for secondary evaluation, retrofit measure, or other course of action. The rating system described herein is based on a methodology provided by the FHWA Retrofitting Manual for highway bridges. One hundred and twenty seven (127) highway bridges were evaluated and rated in this process for projected 50-year and 250-year seismic events. The Tennessee River …

Seismic Evaluation Of I-24 Bridges And Embankments In Western Kentucky–Summary Report, Wael A. Zatar, Issam E. Harik, Ching Chiaw Choo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

I-24 is considered as one of the high priority and emergency routes in the region. Hence, it is essential that I-24 remains functional and operational after an earthquake event. The objective of this study is to perform seismic evaluation and risk assessment of bridges and embankments along I-24 in western Kentucky. The assessment assists identifying and prioritizing bridges that are susceptible to failure.

The study aims at evaluating the seismic risk for 127 bridges, of which 82 bridges lies on I-24 and 45 bridges cross over I-24. This report is the first (1st) in a series of seven reports for …

Study Of Same-Lane And Inter-Lane Gvw Correlation, Colin C. Caprani, Bernard Enright, E. J. O'Brien

Conference papers

Extensive work has been done over the last two decades on the simulation of traffic loading on bridges. The methodology used is to generate a number of years of simulated traffic and to use extreme value statistics to predict more accurately the characteristic loading for a given bridge. The parameters and probability distributions used in the Monte Carlo simulation must be based on observed sample traffic data. Some previous studies have made unsubstantiated assumptions regarding correlation between the Gross Vehicle Weights (GVW) of trucks in the same lane, or between trucks in adjacent, same direction lanes. For this paper, an …

Coatings, Sealants, And Fillers To Address Bridge Concrete Deterioration And Aesthetics-Phase 1, Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study addresses experimental evaluation and testing of concrete coatings for maintenance purposes on structural (steel reinforced) concrete. The test methods employed are intended to identify coatings and sealers for eventual incorporation into a qualified products list for structural concrete coatings. Some of the methods/procedures used in this study will be used in the future to evaluate additional coatings and sealers. Developmental work focused on identifying relevant coatings systems and laboratory tests. The objectives of experimental project monitoring were to: 1) identify existing viable concrete coatings along with their properties/ characteristics/surface preparation requirements and determine effective acceptance/evaluation tests for those …

Lessons Learned From An Emergency Bridge Replacement Project, Yong Bai, William R. Burkett, Phillip T. Nash

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, and subsequent potential threats to U.S. transportation systems have presented an urgent need to develop emergency response plans to quickly react to the possible consequences of extreme events. Extreme events include terrorist attack as well as man-made and natural disasters such as explosions, fires, floods, and earthquakes. The objective of this research was to identify strategies and technologies to quickly restore the use of highway bridges, a critical component of the nation’s transportation network, in case they are damaged or destroyed by extreme events. One of the tasks associated with this research was …

Liquefaction Effects On Lateral Pile Behavior For Bridges, Wei Zheng, Ronaldo Luna

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A coupled pile-soil-structure interaction (SPSI) analysis method is presented to study the liquefaction effects on lateral pile behavior of the highway bridges. Pile-soil interaction is simulated by the dynamic nonlinear p-y method including the effect of liquefaction. The liquefaction effects to the pile-soil interaction are taken into account by introducing a degradation multiplier to the p-y curve. The degradation multiplier is related to the excess pore water pressure buildup at the pile-soil interface. The SPSI analysis method is implemented into a Missouri highway bridge site near the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) rift complex for future earthquake scenarios of Mw …

Transverse-Earthquake Induced Deformations Of A Bridge Approach Embankment In The New Madrid Seismic Zone, Wanxing Liu, Richard Wesley Stephenson, Ronaldo Luna

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

It is predicted that strong earthquakes, larger than M 7.0, may occur within next 50 years in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), the location of three of the most powerful earthquakes in United States history. Large displacements may occur during strong earthquakes that can cause an embankment to fail or lose its function. The hyperbolic stress-strain model with Masing rules was modified to account for strength and stiffness reduction due to change in the effective confining pressure. The Byrne model was combined with a hyperbolic model to calculate the pore water pressure caused by seismic shaking. This modified hyperbolic …

Structural Performance Of Approach Slab And Its Effect On Vehicle Induced Bridge Dynamic Response, Xiaomin Shi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Differential settlement often occurs between the bridge abutment and the embankment soil. It causes the approach slab to lose its contacts and supports from the soil and the slab will bend in a concave manner. Meanwhile, loads on the slab will also redistribute to the slab ends, which may result in faulting (or "bump") at the slab ends. Once a bump forms, repeating traffic vehicles can deteriorate the expansion joint in turn. In this case, the vehicle receives an initial disturbance before it reaches the bridge. This excitation introduces an extra impact load on the bridge and affects its dynamic …

Acoustic Emission Monitoring And Quantitative Evaluation Of Damage In Reinforced Concrete Members And Bridges, Archana Nair

LSU Master's Theses

A considerable proportion of highway bridges in the US, are made of reinforced concrete. The vulnerability of these structures during their long service life is a cause of major concern for civil engineers. Since there is a need to detect and recuperate the condition of the bridge structures numerous innovative non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques have come into the forefront. Of the many available technologies, acoustic emission (AE) monitoring has been the most popular non-destructive technique used on highway bridges. Acoustic emission is a passive monitoring technique. Thus, it can be appropriately used for field bridge monitoring applications. Usually AE monitoring …

Implementation Of A Non-Metallic Reinforced Bridge Deck, Volume 2: Thayer Road Bridge, Robert J. Frosch, Ali Cihan Pay

JTRP Technical Reports

The primary maintenance problem with bridges in Indiana has been deterioration of the concrete deck which is often related to corrosion of the reinforcing steel. While a corrosion protection system consisting of epoxy-coated reinforcement in combination with 2-1/2 in. of Class C concrete cover has been used in Indiana, research and experience have demonstrated that this system can be compromised. As an alternative solution to the corrosion problem in reinforced concrete, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars which are corrosion resistant can be provided as reinforcement. This research was divided into two phases directed towards the implementation of a nonmetallic reinforced …

Disposal Of Bridge Paint Residue, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Paint residue generated by bridge maintenance painting commonly contains lead requiring the residue to be disposed of as a hazardous waste. Several alternatives are being investigated in this study, chemical stabilization and recycling as options for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to consider in addressing the waste stream generated by bridge maintenance painting operations.

In the initial portion of this study, four chemical stabilization materials were identified as candidates for xperimental/demonstration projects entailing maintenance painting. A recycling option was also provided. An experimental bridge painting project was let by KYTC to investigate the use of two chemical stabilizers and the …

Effect Of Edge-Stiffening And Diaphragms On The Reliability Of Bridge Girders, Christopher D. Eamon, Andrzej S. Nowak

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Publications

Secondary elements such as barriers, sidewalks, and diaphragms may affect the distribution of live load to bridge girders. The objective of this study is to evaluate their effect on girder reliability if these elements are designed to be sufficiently attached to the bridge so as not to detach under traffic live loads. Simple span, two lane structures are considered, with composite steel girders supporting a reinforced concrete deck. Several representative structures are selected, with various configurations of barriers, sidewalks and diaphragms. Bridge analysis is performed using a finite element procedure. Load and resistance parameters are treated as random variables. Random …

Evaluation Of Alternate Cable Anchor Designs And Three-Cable Guardrail Adjacent To Steep Slope, Ryan M. Nelson, Dean L. Sicking, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid, John R. Rohde, Karla A. Polivka, Jason A. Hascall

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Continuity Of Bridges Composed Of Simple-Span Precast Prestressed Concrete Girders Made Continuous, Libin Yin

Dissertations

Bridges composed of simple-span, precast, prestressed concrete girders made continuous via cast-in-place decks and diaphragms are continuous only for live loads and superimposed dead loads. The continuity diaphragms often crack due to time dependent effects in the girders. These cracks not only impair bridge ascetics and durability, but also reduce "degree of continuity". A related issue is that joint construction is time consuming and expensive due to reinforcement congestion. This dissertation presents a series of field tests, analytical studies, and laboratory experiments concerning the design and performance of this type of bridge.

Based on a survey of the state departments …

Evaluation Of The Service Performance Of Bridge Components, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Robert Brown

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study was initiated to provide review of common bridges to determine the performance of their components. Seven bridge types were selected that constituted 85 % of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) bridge inventory. 319 bridges were inspected by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC) researchers, representing 5 about % of those bridges. Common details/components were identified and evaluated including features of interest to the KYTC Study Advisory Committee. In addition to those findings, KTC researchers evaluated KYTC National Bridge Inventory reports and maintenance needs forms for the same bridges.

Design modifications/material changes were recommended to improve performance of new bridges. Additionally, …

Nu-Deck Precast Deck Panels And Innovative Bridge Research And Construction, Maher K. Tadros, Charles J. Vranek

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Most of the deficiency in existing stringer-type bridges lie in deterioration of the bridge deck. Cast-in-place reinforced concrete decks experience cracking shortly after construction due to large differential creep and shrinkage with the supporting beams, and due to the temperature drop experienced during the hydration cycle. The NUDECK (Nebraska University) system is a full-depth precast/prestressed concrete bridge deck panel system. The combination of high performance precast concrete, where little creep and shrinkage occur after the deck is made composite with the beams, and two-way prestressing assure continued pre-compression of the deck during its life. With this system, construction time and …

Statewide Listing Of Bridges With Possible Historical Significance, Indiana Ltap

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

This reports documents the efforts of the Indiana LTAP Center to create a statewide inventory of bridges that may be historically significant and was the first step in the development of a management plan for the preservation of the most significant historic bridges and a programmatic agreement in lieu of the standard Section 106 procedure for the less significant bridges.

Included in this report is a description of the work performed by Indiana LTAP, a description of the work to be performed by others as determined by the Historic Bridge Task Force, various summary tables and complete listings of the …

An Analysis Of Seismic Hazards In Indiana, Jennifer Haase, Robert Nowack, Chi Hyun Park, Alison Hunyar, John Hill, Michael Hamburger

JTRP Technical Reports

Current USGS probabilistic seismic hazard estimates (Frankel et al., 2002) show a higher seismic hazard in southwestern Indiana than for the rest of the state. This is expected based on past work documenting large pre-historic events in the Wabash Valley, and also based on isoseismal levels of shaking from the New Madrid 1811-1812 earthquakes. When assessing the hazard on a county by county basis, the local soil conditions produce amplification of shaking in regions with soft or unconsolidated sediments relative to firm-rock sites. We have reproduced the probabilistic seismic hazard calculation following the USGS methodology for the state of Indiana …

Development Of A Design Guideline For Phase Construction Of Steel Girder Bridges, Atorod Azizinamini

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Survey Of Welding Processes, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The current KYTC “SPECIAL PROVISION NO. 4 WELDING STEEL BRIDGES” prohibits the use of welding processes other than shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and submerged arc welding (SAW). Nationally, bridge welding is codified under ANSI/AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5:2002 Bridge Welding Code. That document allows the use of other welding processes including flux core arc welding, gas metal arc welding, electroslag welding and electrogas welding after passing qualification tests.

Both the KYTC Special Provision and the Bridge Welding Code were reviewed. Representatives from 14 state highway agencies, fabrication shops, universities and welding equipment firms were questioned regarding the wider use of the welding …

Design Of A Pedestrian Bridge System Across Lake Kernan At Southern University, Symoane A. Mizell

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

Bridges are of the oldest structural challenges that engineers have encountered, they typify progress more than any other structures built by man. Throughout the course of history, bridges have provided dual purposes of serving as adjuncts between land bodies and also of acting as aesthetic marks of beauty. The idea that the addition of a bridge and other aesthetic structures across the lake would help cure some of Lake Kernan' s ills is the motivation for this design project and this thesis. This design project is a valuable lesson for the members of this design group. The project encompasses many …

Application Of Dynamic System Identification To Timber Bridges, S T. Peterson, D I. Mclean, David Pollock

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

A method of global nondestructive evaluation for identifying local damage and decay in timber beams was developed in previous analytical studies and verified experimentally using simply supported beams in the laboratory. The method employs experimental modal analysis and an algorithm that monitors changes in modal strain energy between the mode shapes of a damaged structure with respect to the undamaged structure. A simple three-girder bridge was built and tested in a laboratory to investigate the capability and limitations of the method for detecting damage in a multimember timber structure. The laboratory tests showed that the method can correctly detect and …

Strengthening And Load Testing Of Three Bridges In Boone County, Missouri, S. Schiebel, R. Parretti, Antonio Nanni, M. Huck

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Three bridges in Boone County, Missouri - Brown School Road, Coats Lane, and Creasy Springs Bridges - were selected for strengthening with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer laminates in both shear and flexure. The objective of the rehabilitation program was to remove the 15-ton load posting that had been imposed on each of the bridges. To verify the results of the upgrade, load tests were performed before and after strengthening on two of the bridges - Brown School Road and Coats Lane Bridges. This paper presents the procedures followed in the design, installation, and load testing of the bridges. A recommendation regarding the …

Critical Loading Events For The Assessment Of Medium Span Bridges, Colin C. Caprani, S. A. Grave, E. J. O'Brien, A. J. O'Connor

Conference papers

This paper describes the simulation of free-flowing traffic across bridges to predict the characteristic values for bridge load effects such as bending moment and shear force. The results of these simulations are then used to demonstrate that, in predicting the characteristic extreme load effects to which a bridge may be subjected, it is not sufficient to solely model one-or two-truck presence events. It is shown that loading events involving three or more trucks may need be included in the model for short to medium spans. The critical loading events for a particular load effect are strongly dependent on the span …