Long-Term Performance Monitoring of the Tech 21 All-Composite Bridge
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 9, Issue 3
Abstract
Tech 21 is the third all-composite vehicular bridge installed in the United States. The deck has sandwich configuration with a center core made by bonding orthotropic fiberglass and polyester tubes. The three trapezoidal beams supporting the deck were fabricated using E-glass fibers with polyester resin. Each beam was fabricated as an integral unit with its deck section to facilitate transportation to the site, erection, and construction. The two-lane bridge is the first fully instrumented all-composite vehicular bridge, including an extensive health-monitoring system installed during its fabrication. A nearly four-year long continuous monitoring was carried out to demonstrate the performance of the bridge. Field monitored information was studied to evaluate the behavior and durability of composites in the harsh infrastructure environment. This evaluation determines the level of confidence in the long-term field benefits of composite materials and technology.
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Acknowledgments
The construction of the all-composite Tech 21 bridge is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between Martin Marietta Materials, Butler County Engineer’s Office, LJB Engineers and Architects, Inc., and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials Directorate. The continuous health monitoring was made possible by the vision, initiative, support, and persistence of the former Butler County Engineer, Mr. Dean C. Foster. Dr. Manoochehr Zoghi of the University of Dayton also helped enable the collection of the raw data. Their support and professional confidence are gratefully acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 9 • Issue 3 • June 2005
Pages: 255 - 262
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: May 10, 2004
Accepted: Sep 16, 2004
Published online: Jun 1, 2005
Published in print: Jun 2005
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