Rapid Girder Selection and Cost Estimation for Simple-Made-Continuous Steel Bridge Design
Publication: Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 15, Issue 4
Abstract
Prestressed precast bridges currently dominate the short to medium bridge market in the state of Colorado. This can be attributed to a lack of competitive steel construction products combined with a strong presence of precast fabricators in the region. For steel girders there is a lack of readily available economical and innovative procedures to design and construct steel bridges, which has hindered the industry in certain areas of the country such as Colorado. A significant percent of the bridges throughout the United States are in need of repair and many in need of replacement. In many part of the country, steel bridges can provide an economic and rapid solution for new and replacement bridges. This paper summarizes the results of a study sponsored by the Colorado DOT to develop a rapid preliminary design and cost estimation tool for simple-made-continuous design and construction. In that method, steel girders are designed as simply supported for the noncomposite dead loads and continuous for composite dead loads and live loads, which can provide economy for spans up to 35 m (120 ft). The methodology summarized herein follows the logic of the AASHTO LRFD specifications. Design charts and tables were created to outline structural steel weight to span length and number of girders, which could be used to prepare initial bids during the material section process.
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Acknowledgments
The funding for this study was provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation Research Branch. The writers are solely responsible for the accuracy of the information presented herein and the opinions presented in this paper do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Colorado Department of Transportation.
References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 15 • Issue 4 • November 2010
Pages: 287 - 293
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 13, 2009
Accepted: Jan 29, 2010
Published online: Feb 1, 2010
Published in print: Nov 2010
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