Browsing by Subject "Bridge design"

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    Full-Depth Precast Concrete Bridge Deck System: Phase II
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2012-10) Halverson, Max; French, Catherine; Shield, Carol
    The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has developed a design for a precast composite slab-span system (PCSSS) to be used in accelerated bridge construction. The system consists of shallow inverted-tee precast beams placed between supports with cast-in-place (CIP) concrete placed on top, forming a composite slab-span system. Suitable for spans between 20 and 60 ft., the MnDOT PCSSS is useful for replacing a large number of aging conventional slab-span bridges throughout the United States highway system. The PCSSS has particular durability, constructability, and economical concerns that affect its value as a viable bridge design. To address these concerns, the performance of existing PCSSS bridges was evaluated and a review of a number of PCSSS design details was conducted. The field inspections demonstrated that design changes made to the PCSSS over its development have improved performance. A parametric design study was also conducted to investigate the effects of continuity design on the economy of the PCSSS. It was recommended that the PCSSS be designed as simply supported rather than as a continuous system.
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    Innovative Technologies for Lifetime Extension of an Aging Inventory of Vulnerable Bridges
    (Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2011-12) Gastineau, Andrew; Wojtkiewicz, Steven; Schultz, Arturo
    This report refines a response modification framework, previously developed by the authors, which combines technological developments in the fields of control systems, health monitoring, and bridge engineering to increase bridge safety. To enhance the modification framework, the numerical bridge model is refined and additional modification apparatuses are added to the numerical model to further develop and confirm the advantages of the response modification approach. A parameter study of the modification apparatus characteristics is carried out to optimize member sizes and modification device characteristics. Finally, a frequency response analysis is carried out to investigate the use of a semi-active system within the scope of the response modification framework.