Designing bridge decks to match bridge life expectancy. extending the life of bridges--symposium, lake buena vista, florida, december 5, 1989
01 Aug 1990-
TL;DR: In this article, a discussion of how design, construction, and service considerations impact life cycle cost and serviceabilty is included for several types of bridge deck for highway bridge construction.
Abstract: The easiest purchasing policy to enforce is least first cost. Under TQM (total quality management), the new mandate is to obtain least life cycle cost. Experience with highway bridge construction in the United States is that the usable life of the bridge deck is only one half of the useful life of the bridge. The average age of bridges when replaced is 68 years, and the average length of service of bridge decks before replacement is 35 years. Bridge deck replacement during the service life of the bridge is much more costly than a new deck on a new bridge, due primarily to the requirements of traffic maintenance during the construction phase of bridge rehabilitation projects. Estimation of the cost of construction of design options for life cycle and serviceability, although extremely difficult to document objectively, must now be accomplished. New public policy has enunciated the importance of determining relative life cycle costs. Estimated bridge costs in the 1950s were $20 to $40 per square foot. Estimates of bridge rehabilitation cost in the 1990s will be $70 to $200 per square foot. This paper reviews various bridge deck construction methods and the theoretical and historical comparisons which may be observed. A discussion of how design, construction, and service considerations impact life cycle cost and serviceabilty is included for several types of bridge deck. In his conclusions and recommendations, the author proposes guidelines for comparing available bridge deck types. The discussion includes checklists of specific project needs, whether new or rehabilitation designs, to meet the objective of matching bridge and deck useful life.
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01 Oct 1999
TL;DR: In this paper, a multi-voided aluminum bridge deck system was used to rehabilitate a functionally obsolete Route 58 highway bridge that spanned the Little Buffalo Creek near Clarksville, Virginia.
Abstract: In response to a growing number of deteriorated and obsolete highway bridge decks, the Reynolds Metals Company has developed a multi-voided aluminum bridge deck system. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) agreed to implement the new aluminum deck system in a demonstration project. The Reynolds deck was employed to rehabilitate a functionally obsolete Route 58 highway bridge that spanned the Little Buffalo Creek near Clarksville, Virginia. Because the VDOT considered the project as experimental, the Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) implemented a study to evaluate the structural performance and serviceability of the Reynolds system. This study involved both experimental and analytical evaluations of the rehabilitated Route 58 bridge. The VTRC performed two field tests to evaluate the bridge response. Instrumentation, consisting of various gages and transducers, measured deck and girder displacements, strains, and accelerations during controlled static and dynamic vehicular load tests. Analytical evaluations were performed with the commercial, general-purpose finite element code ABAQUS. Three-dimensional finite element models were developed to predict the overall structural response of the Route 58 bridge. Model accuracy was verified by using response data acquired from field testing. Girder displacements, uniaxial deck strains, longitudinal normal girder strains, and natural frequencies of vibration were predicted with reasonable accuracy. The validated finite element models of the structure were utilized to perform evaluations of the aluminum deck and steel girder response, composite action, natural frequencies of vibration, and mode shapes. Results from this study clearly demonstrate that aluminum bridge decks are a feasible alternative to reinforced concrete decks from the standpoint of strength and serviceability.
7 citations
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01 Mar 1993
TL;DR: A field testing program was developed to evaluate and characterize the corrosion performance of bridges and to increase the information learned from corrosion protection system test installations in Texas as mentioned in this paper, which was used to investigate eight preexisting bridges representing different protection systems and various overall exposures and service conditions.
Abstract: Despite over 25 years of experience with the problem of bridge reinforcement corrosion due to chlorides from deicers or sea water exposure, the solution to the problem is still unknown. Many different corrosion protection systems have shown promise in laboratory and preliminary field studies, but their performance on the basis of long-term field tests either has not been evaluated or has been questionable. In the portion of the work discussed in this report, an extensive literature search was conducted to identify corrosion protection systems and field test methods. In addition, a survey of TXDOT districts was conducted to identify corrosion protection systems used in Texas and to determine the districts' experiences concerning the different systems. Most importantly, a field testing program was developed to evaluate and characterize the corrosion performance of bridges and to increase the information learned from corrosion protection system test installations in Texas. Preliminary questionnaire surveys distributed to all the TXDOT districts revealed that many different types of corrosion protection systems have been installed in Texas, but that little information on their performance has been collected from the structures since their completion. The field testing program developed in this study was used to investigate eight preexisting bridges representing different protection systems and various overall exposures and service conditions. The test program, which included determination of half-cell potentials, concrete permeability, chloride content, cracking patterns, and delaminations, was found to accurately reflect the corrosion condition of bridges protected by a variety of corrosion protection measures. The tests selected for use in the field surveys were generally successful and accurate, with different tests confirming each other's results.
27 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the impact of structural engineers' contribution in sustainability rating systems and found that their contribution seems to be limited in the sustainability rating system, while structural engineers are key players in architectural or civil infrastructure projects.
Abstract: Structural engineers are key players in architectural or civil infrastructure projects. However, their contribution seems to be limited in sustainability rating systems. This review analysed the cr...
10 citations
01 Oct 1999
TL;DR: In this paper, a multi-voided aluminum bridge deck system was used to rehabilitate a functionally obsolete Route 58 highway bridge that spanned the Little Buffalo Creek near Clarksville, Virginia.
Abstract: In response to a growing number of deteriorated and obsolete highway bridge decks, the Reynolds Metals Company has developed a multi-voided aluminum bridge deck system. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) agreed to implement the new aluminum deck system in a demonstration project. The Reynolds deck was employed to rehabilitate a functionally obsolete Route 58 highway bridge that spanned the Little Buffalo Creek near Clarksville, Virginia. Because the VDOT considered the project as experimental, the Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) implemented a study to evaluate the structural performance and serviceability of the Reynolds system. This study involved both experimental and analytical evaluations of the rehabilitated Route 58 bridge. The VTRC performed two field tests to evaluate the bridge response. Instrumentation, consisting of various gages and transducers, measured deck and girder displacements, strains, and accelerations during controlled static and dynamic vehicular load tests. Analytical evaluations were performed with the commercial, general-purpose finite element code ABAQUS. Three-dimensional finite element models were developed to predict the overall structural response of the Route 58 bridge. Model accuracy was verified by using response data acquired from field testing. Girder displacements, uniaxial deck strains, longitudinal normal girder strains, and natural frequencies of vibration were predicted with reasonable accuracy. The validated finite element models of the structure were utilized to perform evaluations of the aluminum deck and steel girder response, composite action, natural frequencies of vibration, and mode shapes. Results from this study clearly demonstrate that aluminum bridge decks are a feasible alternative to reinforced concrete decks from the standpoint of strength and serviceability.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented statistically derived resistance models for concrete decks reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars, based on a detailed layered-section analysis that takes into account the nonlinearities of the materials.
Abstract: A major portion of maintenance budgets in the United States is usually directed to deck replacement on the aging population of bridges. Concrete deck deterioration, which is mainly due to corrosion of steel reinforcing bars, often takes place before the design life of the bridge is achieved. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars offer a tensile reinforcement alternative that would eliminate corrosion-related problems. Estimation of the flexural capacity of concrete elements reinforced with FRP bars relies on the same concepts of equilibrium and compatibility used for other materials. Incorporation of these concepts in a load and resistance factor design format requires a reliability study and calibration of the new system. This paper presents statistically derived resistance models for concrete decks reinforced with FRP bars. The resistance models are based on a detailed layered-section analysis that takes into account the nonlinearities of the materials. A wide range of parameters was considered, including...
4 citations