Transportation Engineering Commons^™

Survey Of Current Bridge Painting Practices And Related Literature Search, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Christopher M. Oberst

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A survey on current bridge painting practices was conducted. Questionnaires were sent to all 50 state highway agencies concerning their present bridge painting practices, changes in those practices that they anticipate due to environmental regulations, and new or experimental painting practices they are investigating. Forty-three responses were received. Those are collated and presented in the appendices along with comments of the responders.

A literature search was conducted on publications related to painting of steel structures (since 1987). Forty-nine documents were identified as being relevant to the topic. Those documents are listed in bibliographic form in the appendices.

Field Inspections Of High-Performance Bridge Paints, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Edgar E. Courtney, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Paint inspections were performed on 19 steel bridges. Those structures employed various high-performance sacrificial and barrier paints. Those paints were used singly and in combination. The surface preparation varied for some of those paint systems.

The inspections included four girder bridges that had original paint and 15 others, mostly trusses that were repainted. Kentucky Transportation Center personnel also monitored several bridges during repainting operations. The inspections revealed that the original paint was in excellent condition. Most of the coatings on the repainted bridges were performing well. Some of those bridges have some spot corrosion. Only one of those bridges showed …

Development Of A Priority Ranking System For Bridge Rehabilitation And Replacement, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Vishwas G. Oka

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The main objective of this study was to review a Bridge Priority Ranking System for Bridge Replacement developed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Maintenance. The system ranked bridges for improvement (rehabilitation or replacement) based on a benefit/cost ratio.

The system was used to rank a large data base consisting of 267 bridges. Analysis of the rankings revealed that the ranking system gave priority to bridges having low improvement costs. Many of those had low traffic volumes and subsequently, they had high costs of improvement per vehicle served.

The equation used to compute bridge deficiency points was revised. Several …

Load Indicating Washers, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Edgar E. Courtney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) personnel monitored the installation of load indicating washers (LIWs) on the US 60 bridge at Catlettsburg, KY during construction. On completion of the bridge, KTC personnel performed torque measurements on a number of LIW installations. LIWs previously installed on the Thirteenth Street Bridge over the Ohio River at Ashland, KY were also inspected.

The KTC construction inspections revealed no significant problems in installing LIWs. Workers were able to use them to determine proper bolt assembly installation. They also permitted inspectors to rapidly check for proper bolt tension. As with other bolt tensioning methods, LIWs had to …

Modular Expansion Joints And Deck Drains, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Edgar E. Courtney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Inspections were conducted on bridge modular expansion joints and deck drains to assess their performance. Forty-four modular expansion joints were inspected including 38 Wabo-Maurer and 16 Acme joints. Twenty-three elastomeric dams were also inspected for comparative purposes including 21 Transflex dams and 2 Fei-Span units. The joints were rated using a quantitative subjective rating system developed by Penn DOT.

Both the modular expansion joints and the newer expansion dams were performing satisfactorily. Both types of joints leaked and experienced a number of minor hardware problems. some of the joints may warrant repairs to restore their complete function.

Deck drains and …

Earthquake Hazard Mitigation Of Transportation Facilities For Mclean County, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen, Vincent P. Drnevich

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Concern has grown in recent years over the seismic activity of the New Madrid seismic zone in Western Kentucky. McLean County, Kentucky is located in this region. To permit emergency medical, supply, and equipment traffic into this area after an earthquake has occurred, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is interested in the possibility of keeping selected routes passable. This report lists the route that has been investigated and recommended as being the route in McLean County that should be maintained in passable condition. The recommended route, KY 136, has been visually surveyed and all seismically significant features cataloged. These features are …

Excessive Beam Deflections On The Ky-52 Bridge Over Dix River (Boyle-Garrard County Line), Theodore Hopwood Ii, Vishwas G. Oka, David Q. Hunsucker, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Upon rehabilitation, beams and deck of the Ky 52 bridge over Dix River were observed to have excessive deflections. An investigation of the problem included field inspections, structural analyses, and interviews with relevant KYDOH and other personnel.

Field measurements were made of the beam deflections. Those were compared to construction field measurements and dead-load calculations.

The beam deflection problem is attributed to 1) a failure to provide for sufficient camber in the beams to accommodate for construction dead loads, and 2) pre-existing sags in the beams when placed prior to casting the deck. Part of the deck deflection problem can …

Long-Term Evaluation Of The Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Research Program conducted an extended 10- month evaluation of the Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor (AEWM) in a bridge fabrication shop. That device was used to detect welding flaws during typical production of butt-welds on flanges and webs used in steel bridges. A total of 153 welds were monitored.

AEWM test results were compared with visual inspection and double- blind results of conventional nondestructive testing routinely conducted on the welds. The AEWM did not miss any flaws detected visually or by nondestructive testing. Three AEWM flaw indications were confirmed by conventional nondestructive testing (radiography).

A large number of …

Earthquake Hazard Mitigation Of Transportation Facilities, David L. Allen, Vincent P. Drnevich, Mostafa Sayyedsadr, L. John Fleckenstein

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Concern has grown in recent years, over the seismic activity of the New Madrid seismic zone located in the central United States. Western Kentucky is located in this region. To permit emergency medical, supply, and equipment traffic into this area after an earthquake has occurred, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is interested in the possibility of keeping selected routes passable. This report lists the routes that have been investigated and recommended as being routes that should be maintained in passable conditions. These recommended routes have been visually surveyed and all seismically significant features cataloged. These features are listed in the Appendix. …

Reliability Assessment Of High-Risk Steel Bridges By Nondestructive Test Methods, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Vishwas G. Oka, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Fatigue-crack related failures of high-risk (fracture-critical) steel bridges may be prevented through application of nondestructive tests (NDT). Economical reliability assessment of those structures requires 1) application of a suitable NDT method, 2) testing of fatigue-susceptible members, and 3 ) periodic retests of those members to preclude problems with growing or previously undetected flaws.

Six conventional NDT techniques were tested in the laboratory using buttweld configured specimens having intentionally embedded cracks. Those NDT methods were 1) visual inspection, 2) magnetic-particle testing, 3) dyepenetrant testing, 4) florescent-enhanced surface testing, 5 ) eddy-current testing, and 6) ultrasonic testing. The other NDT methods provided …

Acoustic Emission Monitoring Of In-Service Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, David W. Prine

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

An experimental acoustic emission (AE) device, the GARD Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor (AEWM), has been field tested on six bridges during this study. In addition, the device was used to test three other bridges under separate contracts from state highway agencies. The device was evaluated to determine if it could detect fatigue-crack growth on in-service steel bridges.

The AEWM employs a proprietary three-step model (filter) to reject noise-related AE activity and detect and locate defects subject to varying stress conditions. The unit uses built-in microprocessors to compare incoming data to the model. If defect-related AE activity is detected, the AEWM …

Use Of Nondestructive Testing To Prevent Failures Of In-Service Metal Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The failure of metal bridges, subject to in-service fracture problems mainly caused by fatigue, may be prevented or minimized by performance of periodic nondestructive testing. Attendant factors that justify funding for such inspections include the potential for bridge failure, the consequences of bridge collapse, risk analyses, and inspection strategies. Factors that affect structural integrity include structural design, construction quality, and service loadings.

Details of a computer/strain-gage system capable of obtaining strain-gage data from critical structural elements are described. Data are processed to determine the stress-range distribution, number of stress cycles, resolved mean stress range, need for structural inspection, critical crack …

Demonstration And Preliminary Evaluation Of The Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report describes the demonstration and preliminary evaluation of the microprocessor-based acoustic emission weld monitor (AEWM) developed for the Federal Highway Administration by GARD Inc. of Niles, IL. The equipment was tested successfully on butt welds in several fabrication shops by the Kentucky Transportation Research Program (KTRP). Some problems were encountered in monitoring fillet welds.

The AEWM was demonstrated to personnel from 20 state agencies representing FHWA Regions 1, 3, 4, and 5. The demonstrations were performed at three different fabrication shops in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

A preliminary evaluation of the AEWM is included. Also, the summary of a …

Inspection, Prevention, And Remedy Of Suspension Bridge Cable Corrosion Problems, Theodore Hopwood Ii, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report discusses methods for visually inspecting cable suspension bridges for corrosion damage. The report discusses how to plan and perform such work, including the locations on cables where corrosion damage is likely to be detected. The report also provides recommendations for assessing the condition of suspension bridge wire. Recommendations also are included for remedial cable repair work should corrosion damage be detected.

Introduction To Cable Suspension Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report is an overview of suspension bridges. A historical perspective of bridge construction design and materials is included, focusing on bridges of interest to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The report is intended to provide background information on suspension bridges to those not well acquainted with the structures.

Corrosion Of Cable Suspension Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report discusses corrosion problems encountered on the cables of suspension bridges. A historical review is given of past cable suspension bridge corrosion and related laboratory work.

Findings of inspections of suspension bridges at Maysville, KY, Covington, KY, and Portsmouth, OH, are discussed. Recommendations are presented.

Periodic Nondestructive Evaluation Of In-Service Metal Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Metal bridges are subject to in-service fracture problems mainly caused by fatigue. This report considers the prevention of bridge failure by the performance of periodic nondestructive evaluations. Differences in visual and other nondestructive inspect ions are discussed. The use of preliminary inspection strategies for proper testing also is presented. The suitability of common types of nondestructive testing for bridge inspections also are included.

Bridge / Tunnel Crossing Study : Portland Harbor - Fore River, Portland - South Portland, Maine Department Of Transportation

Maine Collection

Bridge / Tunnel Crossing Study : Portland Harbor - Fore River, Portland - South Portland

Report by Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, Inc., Engineers, Boston, Mass.

Prepared for the Maine Department of Transportation, Augusta, Maine, 1973.

Contents: Table of Contents / List of Figures / List of Tables / Introduction / Summary of Findings / Section 1 - General Background - Location Study / Section 2 - Alternative Facilities and Locations / Section 3 - Comparison of Construction Costs - Tunnel Versus Bridge / Section 4 - Traffic Analysis / Section 5 - Cost Effectiveness Analysis / Section 6 - Financial …

Analysis Of Traffic Loads On Bridges: Report Ii Characteristics Of Traffic On Ohio River Bridges - 1968, Robert L. Lynch

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The recent bridge disaster at Point Pleasant, West Virginia, has renewed concern about the mechanism of material fatigue as a possible cause of catastrophic failure of bridge structures. A reasonable methodology for evaluating the fatigue condition of the highway bridge requires a knowledge of the distribution of traffic loads utilizing the facility during the analysis period. The accuracy of such an analysis is dependent on the accuracies of the input data -- material fatigue properties and traffic characteristics. The more critical of the above parameters, with respect to accuracy, appears to be traffic characteristics. This is especially true of vehicle …

The Design Of Thin, Silica Sand-Asphalt, Wearing Surfaces For Highways And Bridges, Robert L. Florence

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study was performed at the Highway Materials Research Laboratory in Lexington, Kentucky. In this study the various sands were combined with a sphalt cement of penetration 60 to 70 and tested by the Marshall method to determine the physical characteristics of the mixtures. Other variables investigated were the hardness of the asphalt cement and the amount of mineral filler. A coefficient of friction was determined, by means of a laboratory testing device, for each of the mixtures.

Due to the promising results of the laboratory testing, and the successful re-surfacing of bridges with silica sand-asphalt mixtures in the New …