Development of Steel Design Details and Selection Criteria for Cost Effective and Innovative Steel Bridges in Colorado

This research focuses on finding a method for creating cost effective and innovative steel bridges in Colorado. The design method that was discovered to create this cost efficiency was designing the beams as simply supported for non-composite dead loads, beam weight and wet concrete, and then making the beams continuous at the pier for composite dead loads and live loads. This method eliminates the need for an expensive field splice and simplifies design details at the interior support, creating cost savings. During the research, a software package was created at Colorado State University that takes user inputted data, such as span lengths, out to out width, number of girders, and overhang along with various other inputs and outputs the lightest wide flange shape that will satisfy the loading. The girders were designed using appropriate provisions from the AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specifications 4th edition 2007. Once the program was completed, design charts and design tables were created for several one, two, and three span steel bridges. Each span arrangement for the design charts and tables was made using full widths of 39 ft, 44 ft, and 60 ft. Each chart and table depicted how the structural steel weight per square foot changes as the number of girders was increased as well as providing the lightest wide flange shape required to support the deck and traffic loads. These charts and tables also illustrate how the required amount of structural steel changes when different spans were used. The design charts will aid the bridge type selection process by giving designers an accurate measurement of minimum steel requirements for numerous one, two, and three span steel bridges. Finally, steel fabrication and erection cost were gathered from regional steel fabricators and bridge contractors. This cost information led to an accurate measurement of the cost per square foot for the structural steel of a bridge to be built in the state of Colorado. Overall, this research has provided the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and others who will use the software or design charts with a tool that will facilitate the construction of innovative steel girder bridges.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=697
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/23133
• Corporate Authors:

  Colorado State University, Fort Collins

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Fort Collins, CO  United States  80523-1372

  Colorado Department of Transportation

  4201 E Arkansas Avenue
  Denver, CO  United States  80222
• Authors:
  • Stone, Alexander J
  • van de Lindt, John W
  • Chen, Suren
• Publication Date: 2011-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 151p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Design charts; Girders; Live loads; Load and resistance factor design; Static loads; Steel bridges; Structural steel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Steel girders
• Geographic Terms: Colorado
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I34: Steels and Metals;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01353923
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 85-00
• Files: NTL, TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 19 2011 12:52PM