Journal of Bridge Engineering

This paper describes a risk-based methodology developed to facilitate prioritization of terrorist threat mitigation strategies on individual bridges. Numerous risk-based methods have been used for prioritization among a group of bridges or other assets. However, this methodology is unique in that it is specifically designed to focus on a single bridge and the risk associated with each of its many individual structural components. “Risk,” as discussed herein, describes the relative potential for a terrorist attack against a specific component and the associated consequence from the attack. It is based on such factors as the component’s importance to overall structural stability, its location and thus accessibility to terrorists, and its resistance to the specific threat. The component-specific risk factors and their modifying attributes are described. The result of the methodology is a rank-ordered list of components most at risk to an attack, allowing prioritization and optimization of the mitigation design for the bridge. Once mitigation schemes are identified, the methodology can then be utilized to recalculate mitigated risk, allowing for a direct indication of cost/benefit of the mitigation design. The methodology and comparison criteria are described and a simple application example is given to demonstrate the usefulness of the methodology.

The majority of all built movable bridges can be grouped into one of the following three structural systems: Bascule bridges, swing bridges, and lift bridges. Many examples for each of these three types of bridges exist and have been documented in the existing literature. The kinematics of these three traditional bridge systems are simple at first sight but nevertheless are important for conceptual design and calculation. Moreover, some recently built or proposed movable pedestrian bridges in Europe differ distinctly from the three aforementioned traditional types of movable bridges. A range of these new ideas is presented here in the context of their kinematic behavior. The writers believe that the understanding of kinematic principles, which are applied regularly in other engineering disciplines, will assist with the development of further new ideas for movable bridges. This paper endeavours to present some such principles and illustrate the application to the given topic.

The differential settlement between the bridge abutment and the approach embankment produces the common “bump at the end of the bridge.” This paper conducts a theoretical study on the determination of the allowable differential settlement. The maximum transient vibration value of the acceleration is recommended as the vibration comfort index. A dynamic response analysis to Man-Vehicle-Road system is carried out by means of the Laplace transform in which the vehicle is modeled as a three-degree-of-freedom system, and the bridge approaches with and without approach-relative slopes are simplified as broken lines model and step model, respectively. Parametric studies are carried out to find out what kind of effects some parameters such as the driving direction and running speed may have on the allowable differential settlement. Finally, the method and computational procedures to determine the allowable differential settlement are presented.

Brittle fracture results in unplanned loss of service, very costly repairs, concern regarding the future safety of the structure, and potential loss of life. These types of failures are most critical when there is no evidence of fatigue cracking leading up to the fracture and the fracture origin is concealed from view. Hence, the failure occurs without warning and the details are, essentially, noninspectable. In these cases, it appears desirable to take a proactive approach and introduce preventative retrofits to reduce the potential for future crack development. These efforts will help ensure that the likelihood of unexpected fractures is minimized. This paper examines the behavior of two bridge structures in which brittle fractures have developed in recent times, discusses the causes of the failures, and offers suggested design strategies for prevention and retrofit mitigation techniques. In situations where considerable uncertainty exists in the prediction of accumulated damage or in the ability to reliably inspect critical details, preemptive retrofit strategies appear to be highly desirable.

Prior research has demonstrated that transverse stiffeners in straight I-girders are loaded predominantly by bending induced by their restraint of web lateral deflections at the shear strength limit state, not by in-plane tension field forces. This is at odds with present specification approaches for the design of these components. Furthermore, recent studies have confirmed that curved I-girders are capable of developing substantial shear postbuckling resistance due to tension field action and have demonstrated that the AASHTO LRFD equations for the tension field resistance in straight I-girders may be applied to curved I-girders within specific limits. However, the corresponding demands on transverse stiffeners in curved I-girders are still largely unknown. In this paper, the behavior of one- and two-sided transverse stiffeners in straight and horizontally curved steel I-girders is investigated by full nonlinear finite element analysis. New recommendations are developed for design of transverse stiffeners in straight and curved I-girders based on the results of this and prior research.

The use of horizontally curved composite multiple-box girder bridges in modern highway systems is quite suitable in resisting torsional and warping effects induced by highway curvatures. Bridge users react adversely to vibrations of a bridge and especially where torsional modes dominate. In this paper, continuous curved composite multiple-box girder bridges are analyzed, using the finite-element method, to evaluate their natural frequencies and mode shapes. Experimental tests are conducted on two continuous twin-box girder bridge models of different curvatures to verify and substantiate the finite-element model. Empirical expressions are deduced from these results to evaluate the fundamental frequency for such bridges. The parameters considered herein are the span length, number of lanes, number of boxes, span-to-radius of curvature ratio, span-to-depth ratio, end-diaphragm thickness, number of cross bracings, and number of spans.

This paper deals with the development process of a multistrand wedge anchor head mechanism. Generally, this development process involves a number of different experimental tests but, while informative and necessary, these tests cannot provide valuable information such as internal strain distributions, stress concentrations, or percentage of the anchorage yielded volume. To answer these questions, an efficient numerical finite element model has been developed and validated which includes nonlinearities such as: large strain; plasticity; and contact between interfaces. First, this paper presents a comparison between numerical and experimental results of VSL International CS 6-31 anchorage mechanism under standard loading conditions. Based on the good agreement between results, the numerical model was then used to assess the anchorage behavior under more severe loading conditions and improved mechanical characteristics. Through anchorage deflection, von Mises stresses as well as equivalent plastic strains, it is shown that the anchor areas most severely stressed are concentrated along its peripheral wedge cavities and that, while suitable for typical loadings, the VSL anchorage is not acceptable for the more severe loading conditions examined. Finally, this paper underlines the proposed numerical model usefulness with regard to the development of new post-tensioned anchorages by providing information not otherwise available.

The effect of a skew angle on simple-span reinforced concrete bridges is presented in this paper using the finite-element method. The parameters investigated in this analytical study were the span length, slab width, and skew angle. The finite-element analysis (FEA) results for skewed bridges were compared to the reference straight bridges as well as the American Association for State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standard Specifications and LRFD procedures. A total of 96 case study bridges were analyzed and subjected to AASHTO HS-20 design trucks positioned close to one edge on each bridge to produce maximum bending in the slab. The AASHTO Standard Specifications procedure gave similar results to the FEA maximum longitudinal bending moment for a skew angle less than or equal to 20°. As the skew angle increased, AASHTO Standard Specifications overestimated the maximum moment by 20% for 30°, 50% for 40°, and 100% for 50°. The AASHTO LRFD Design Specifications procedure overestimated the FEA maximum longitudinal bending moment. This overestimate increased with the increase in the skew angle, and decreased when the number of lanes increased; AASHTO LRFD overestimated the longitudinal bending moment by up to 40% for skew angles less than 30° and reaching 50% for 50°. The ratio between the three-dimensional FEA longitudinal moments for skewed and straight bridges was almost one for bridges with skew angle less than 20°. This ratio decreased to 0.75 for bridges with skew angles between 30 and 40°, and further decreased to 0.5 as the skew angle of the bridge increased to 50°. This decrease in the longitudinal moment ratio is offset by an increase of up to 75% in the maximum transverse moment ratio as the skew angle increases from 0 to 50°. The ratio between the FEA maximum live-load deflection for skewed bridges and straight bridges decreases in a pattern consistent with that of the longitudinal moment. This ratio decreased from one for skew angles less than 10° to 0.6 for skew angles between 40 and 50°.

The transportation infrastructure in the United States is deteriorating and will require significant improvements. Consequently, innovations in the area of transportation infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation are keys to the health and wellness of this valuable national asset. A major component of maintenance and rehabilitation is the ability to accurately assess the condition of the transportation infrastructure. This can be accomplished in part by using nondestructive evaluation techniques. Several nondestructive techniques have been used on concrete bridge decks and have proven to be efficient and effective. This paper aims at studying the different nondestructive evaluation techniques used in the assessment of concrete bridge deck conditions. An experimental investigation to evaluate the ability of infrared thermography, impact echo, and ground penetrating radar to detect common flaws in concrete bridge decks is developed and discussed. Results from this study showed the ability of these methods to detect defects with varying precision. Capabilities of the methods were verified and comparisons among the methods were made.

Large numbers of conventionally RC deck–girder bridges are in the national highway system. Diagonal cracks have been identified in many of these bridges, which are exposed to millions of load cycles during service life. The anticipated life of these bridges in the cracked condition under repeated service loads is uncertain. Laboratory experiments were performed on full-size girder specimens to evaluate possible deterioration in shear capacity under repeated loading. Specimen variables included: T and inverted-T configurations, stirrup spacing, and flexural reinforcing details. Test results indicated bond deterioration increased diagonal crack displacements, and analysis methods to predict the shear capacity of diagonally cracked reinforced concrete girders subjected to high-cycle fatigue damage are provided. The AASHTO-LRFD shear provisions conservatively predicted shear capacity for the fatigued specimens without stirrup fractures, and shear capacity predictions from computer analysis program Response 2000 were very well correlated with experimental results for fatigued test specimens when the input concrete tensile strength was reduced to nearly zero.

Experimental results show that the crack growth of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced concrete flexural elements experience a crack development stage followed by crack stabilization. The crack length and elastic crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) increase during the crack development stage until reaching the crack stabilization stage. A finite-element representation was proposed to predict the initial CMOD. A debonded length was specified to account for the bond-slip between FRP bar and concrete. It was assumed that there was no tangential displacement between the reinforcement and concrete outside of the debonded length. A fatigue model was created using the Paris equation to simulate the growth of elastic CMOD. The model displayed good agreement with the test results. A size effect was also observed for the exponential parameter in the Paris equation.

For decades, bridge slabs have been troubled by the corrosion of steel reinforcement. The unique corrosion resistance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars makes them a promising alternative to steel bars. Experiments have been conducted to investigate the bond performance of GFRP reinforced concrete under constant amplitude cyclic fatigue loading. Each specimen was an identical length beam with a single GFRP bar at the bottom, intended to simulate a transverse strip of a typical bridge deck slab. The crack growth was monitored for specimens of different widths, simulating different transverse reinforcement spacings. Up to $2\text{million}\text{cycles}$ of cyclic loads were applied at 100% typical service load levels. No fatigue failure was encountered in the testing. The effects of moderate overloads were also investigated.

Four suspension bridges stiffened by prestressed concrete slabs were designed and constructed on highways in southwestern mountainous areas of China. These bridges are the first applications of its kind in China. This paper discusses the site condition, adaptability, and design and construction features of these bridges. These bridges have single suspension spans between 278 and $388\mathrm{m}$ and deck width between 14.4 and $15.0\mathrm{m}$ . The longitudinal distance between hangers is only $5\mathrm{m}$ , which is relatively small for this bridge type, and there are only two lanes. The dual direction prestressed concrete slabs are $0.6\mathrm{m}$ deep, and its wind blocking area is relatively small. Dynamic analysis and wind tunnel tests verify that the wind resistance requirements are easily satisfied.

A field load test is an essential way to understand the behavior and fundamental characteristics of newly constructed bridges before they are allowed to go into service. The results of field static load tests and numerical analyses on the Qingzhou cable-stayed bridge ( $605\mathrm{m}$ central span length) over the Ming River, in Fuzhou, China are presented in the paper. The general test plan, tasks, and the responses measured are described. The level of test loading is about 80–95% of the code-specified serviceability load. The measured results include the deck profile, deck and tower displacements, and stresses of steel-concrete composite deck. A full three-dimensional finite-element model is developed and calibrated to match the measured elevations of the bridge deck. A good agreement is achieved between the experimental and analytical results. It is demonstrated that the initial equilibrium configuration of the bridge plays an important role in the finite-element calculations. Both experimental and analytical results have shown that the bridge is in the elastic state under the planned test loads, which indicates that the bridge has an adequate load-carrying capacity. The calibrated finite-element model that reflects the as-built conditions can be used as a baseline for health monitoring and future maintenance of the bridge.