Effect of Service Temperature on Joint Removal in Steel Bridges

Bridge expansion joints are a particularly troublesome component of bridges and many departments of transportation (DOTs) are looking for a solution to deteriorating expansion joints on highway bridges. Bridge expansion joints create a break in the structural continuity of a bridge, allowing clogging gravels and corroding chlorides to enter. They are designed to absorb thermal movements of the bridge between two bridge elements. There are three main issues regarding expansion joints: maintenance, knowledge about thermal movements, and costs. In order to prevent deterioration due to expansion joints, the joints must be cleaned regularly and replaced promptly after failure. However, most DOTs do not have the personnel, time, or resources to maintain their districts’ expansion joints, which leads to bridge deterioration. Other similar maintenance and component issues have been addressed using a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA). For this to be used on expansion joints the main issues of thermal knowledge, maintenance, and costs must first be addressed. The main goals of this project are to (1) expand understanding of thermal loading effects on bridge expansion joints and (2) conduct an LCCA for joint elimination and retrofits for bridges in Colorado. These objectives were accomplished utilizing data from in-field instrumentation and finite element models. The study has been developed jointly between the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and researchers at Colorado State University. Three main tasks were conducted to achieve the objectives: (1) collect and analyze long-term thermal loading data from existing bridges to assess thermal loading impacts on joints; (2) perform a parametric study using a calibrated finite element model to further understand joint behavior and retrofit options under thermal loads; (3) perform an LCCA for bridge expansion joint retrofitting, including impacts on bridge superstructure. The significance of this work includes the results of data collection and analysis, the parametric studies, and the LCCA findings. The results of the numerical analysis show that clogged joints induce some localized stress, more so for the steel bridge, but do not significantly affect the global performance of the superstructure. The results also show that a reduction in moment demand on the superstructure is not apparent until a full-moment connection is utilized as a joint replacement. The parametric study and data analysis of thermal gradients indicate a stark need for further research into thermal gradients experienced by bridges. Finally, the LCCA concluded that a retrofit continuous bridge design would provide the most cost-effective design by decreasing joint replacement costs and pier cap corrosion. The modeling approach outlined in this study and the LCCA framework can be applied to any bridge and be used by CDOT to determine the viability of joint elimination for any bridge in Colorado.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=948
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/42964
• Summary URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/42963
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Colorado State University, Fort Collins

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Fort Collins, CO  United States  80525

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mahmoud, Hussam
  • Atadero, Rebecca
  • Rager, Karly
  • Harper-Smith, Aura Lee
  • Memari, Mehrdad
• Publication Date: 2018-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 147p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge superstructures; Expansion joints; Finite element method; Life cycle analysis; Retrofitting; Steel bridges; Thermal properties
• Geographic Terms: Colorado
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01710565
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MPC-18-366
• Contract Numbers: MPC-484
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 9 2019 11:27AM