Laboratory and Field Testing and Evaluation of Precast Bridge Elements

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

START DATE

05/01/06

END DATE

01/31/09

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, BEC, CTRE
SPONSORS

FHWA Innovative Bridge Research and Construction
Iowa Department of Transportation
Iowa Highway Research Board

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Terry Wipf
Co-Principal Investigator
Brent Phares

Bridge Research Engineer, BEC

Co-Principal Investigator
Wayne Klaiber

About the research

1. Assist the Iowa DOT and Iowa county engineers in fully leveraging the FHWA Innovative Bridge Research Construction Program funding. Demonstrating the benefits of precast, post-tensioned bridge components through this project may provide an opportunity for the Iowa DOT and Iowa county engineers to design and construct more cost effective and durable bridges. The benefits derived from developing accelerated construction concepts may also be significant. 2. Perform testing (lab and field) and evaluation of precast components for three separate bridge projects to assess overall design, construction, and bridge structural performance. The research team will design and install monitoring systems and perform laboratory structural tests on bridge specimens that represent structural details for use on three field demonstration projects in Black Hawk County, Boone County, and Madison County. Further, the research team will design and install monitoring systems on the three demonstration field bridges to collect overall bridge construction and in-service bridge performance over an extended period of more than two years. Evaluation of performance will be formulated through comparisons with design assumptions, recognized codes, and standards including the AASHTO specifications.

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