Transportation Engineering Commons^™

Detailed Seismic Evaluation Of Bridges On And Over The Parkways In Western Kentucky, Jian Xie, Issam E. Harik, Tong Zhao

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report outlines a rating system and details an evaluation procedure for the seismic evaluation of highway bridges. These processes are later used to investigate the structural integrity of selected highway bridges on and over the parkways in Western Kentucky. A total of 349 bridges were rated with the bridge ranking system, and 17 were selected for detailed seismic evaluation.

The capacity/demand ratio method developed by the Federal Highway Administration is employed for the detailed evaluation of bridges. The evaluation involves creating three-dimensional finite element models for all 17 bridges. Dynamic analysis is performed for a projected 250-year event. Among …

Equivalent Barge And Flotilla Impact Forces On Bridge Piers, Peng Yuan, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Bridge piers located in navigable inland waterways are designed to resist impact forces from barges and flotillas in addition to other design considerations (e.g., scour, dead and live loads, etc.). The primary design tool for estimating these forces is the AASHTO Guide Specification which provides a simple hand calculation method for determining an “equivalent impact force”. The simplicity comes at a cost of excluding the effect of the pier shape, impact duration, and interaction between barges in a flotilla. The objective of this report is to present a hand calculation method for determining barge or flotilla equivalent static impact forces …

Multi-Barge Flotilla Impact Forces On Bridges, Peng Yuan, Issam E. Harik, Michael T. Davidson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The current AASHTO equations for barge impact loads are based on scale models of barges, and may not accurately predict impact loads on bridge piers. The results of this study produce more realistic flotilla impact design loads, potentially leading to a reduction in construction costs of bridges over navigable waterways. The objectives of this study are: (1) To conduct theoretical finite element analysis on various types of flotillas impacting bridge piers. The flotillas and the respective barges will be of the type commonly traversing Kentucky’s waterways; and (2) To generate design equations for barge/flotilla impact loads. The study concludes the …

Compaction Of Mixtures Of Hard Rocks And Soft Shales And Non-Durable Shales Using Impact Compactors, Tommy C. Hopkins

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Impact roller compaction has been used to improve embankment and highway subgrades in South Africa, Australia, Europe, and China and other areas of the world. In September of 2003, the International Technology Scanning Program, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program of the Transportation Research Board, identified this technology as one of several foreign technologies and innovations that could significantly benefit U.S. transportation systems. The technology was high-lighted at the Fifth International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads and Airfields in 1998 …

Design And Evaluation Of An Open Combination Traffic/Bicycle Bridge Railing System, Jason A. Hascall, John R. Rohde, Dean L. Sicking, Karla A. Polivka, Ronald K. Faller, James C. Holloway M.S.C.E., E.I.T.

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Shear Repair Of P/C Box Beams Using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (Cfrp) Fabric, Jim W. Simpson Ii, Issam E. Harik, Choo Ching Chiaw

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The report documents the retrofit work carried out on the KY3297 Bridge over Little Sandy River in Carter County, Kentucky. Field investigation and evaluation revealed that the bridge superstructure was deficient in shear. The repair work was carried out using externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) fabric system. The repair, using externally bonded fiber system, offers the following benefits: (1) the use of light construction equipment, hand kits and tools, (2) minimal traffic disruption as all lanes were open to traffic while work was being performed underneath the bridge, and (3) cost saving; the cost for the repair and …

Steel Bridge System With Delayed Composite Action, Atorod Azizinamini, Aaron Jon Yakel

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Soluble Salts On Kentucky Bridges, Sudhir Palle, Rick Younce, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Invisible soluble salts present on steel highway structures can act to promote corrosion even after maintenance painting. Soluble salts include chloride, nitrate and sulfate ions. Soluble salts found on bridge decks and roadways are the result of usage of deicing salts (chlorides), and the deposition of atmospheric pollution (nitrates and sulfates) on exterior surfaces. Typical pollution-related sources of soluble salts are coal-fired power plants, refineries, farming operations, vehicle emissions, and chemical plants. Sites for soluble salt damage on bridges include:

• Beam ends under open or leaking expansion joints,
• Flanges and lower portions of webs of overpass structures,
• Lower chords and …

Fatigue Analysis Of The I-75 Bridge Over The Kentucky River At Clays Ferry, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Vishwas G. Oka

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Fatigue analysis was performed on AASHTO category E welded connections on the southbound I 75 bridge over the Kentucky River at Clays Ferry, Kentucky. That analysis was based on the stress-range histogram data provided by Law Engineering of Louisville, Kentucky. That data were obtained from strain gages installed at 6 test locations on the downstream truss.

The fatigue analyses consisted of safe-life and fatigue-crack growth analyses. Safe-life predictions were based on AASHTO fatigue design (SN) curves. To use those curves, equivalent constant-amplitude stresses were derived from the stress histograms. Those stresses and loading frequencies were modified to reflect anticipated increases …

Bridge Decks And Overlays, James H. Havens, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Edgar E. Courtney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The report presents a historical perspective of the Transportation Cabinet's bridge deck construction and maintenance efforts directed toward increasing bridge deck durability.

Bridge decks crack in specific patterns that primarily depend upon bridge designs. Normal deck cracking is due to load-induced and thermal effects. Each type of cracking has a distinct pattern.

One-hundred and nineteen experimental bridge deck overlays were inspected. Included were 9 membrane bridges, 87 latex concrete overlays and 23 low-slump overlays. The overlays had been placed originally on both new and existing bridge decks on various routes throughout the state. Most of the overlays were rated in …

Status Report For Selected Projects Containing Experimental Features, Kentucky Transportation Research Program

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Projects containing experimental features or innovative concepts were selected for long-term monitoring and are reported herein. Certain projects are recommended for more intensive investigation under other appropriate ongoing studies.

Construction, Protection And Maintenance Of Concrete Bridge Decks, Ronald D. Hughes, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents an historical account of deterioration in reinforced concrete bridge decks. Preventative maintenance treatments to both new and in-service decks are discussed. Repair methods are included. The major forms of deterioration are listed and causative mechanisms are discussed. Potential design and construction remedies are presented for consideration.

Memo On Aberdeen And Brownsville Bridge, Kentucky Highway Materials Research Laboratory

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.