Monitoring of First “Bridge-in-a-Backpack” Bridge in Massachusetts
An innovative “Bridge-in-a-Backpack” bridge was constructed in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The system, developed at the University of Maine, uses newly implemented technology of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes filled with concrete to reduce construction time and cost, reduce maintenance costs, and increase lifespan of the structure. The bridge is unique in that it has a 30 degree skew and shallower arch geometry than other bridges of this type that have been constructed. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, collaborating with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, instrumented the bridge with a total of 99 gages (strain gages, pressure cells, tiltmeters, displacement transducers, and convergence gages). This paper discusses the bridge response under construction loads, static live load testing, and the first eleven months of long-term monitoring, to report on the observed performance of this innovative bridge.
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFF80 Structural Fiber Reinforced Polymers.
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Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Authors:
- Quinn, Brooke H
- Civjan, Scott A
- Lahovich, Andrew
- Brena, Sergio F
- Elnahal, Shoukry
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Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2013-1-13 to 2013-1-17
- Date: 2013
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 16p
- Monograph Title: TRB 92nd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Arch bridges; Bridge construction; Fiber reinforced polymers; Live loads; Load tests; Measuring instruments; Monitoring
- Geographic Terms: Massachusetts
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Materials; I30: Materials; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01473466
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 13-3221
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Feb 22 2013 10:29AM