BRIDGE 1-351 OVER MUDDY RUN: DESIGN, TESTING, AND ERECTION OF AN ALL-COMPOSITE BRIDGE
Bridge 1-351 on Business Route 896 in Glasgow, Delaware, was replaced with one of the first state-owned all-composite bridges in the nation. Composites are lightweight construction materials that do not corrode, which results in benefits such as ease of construction and reduced maintenance costs. A summary of the design, large-scale testing, fabrication, erection, and monitoring of this bridge is presented. The bridge was designed to AASHTO load and resistance factor design specifications. A methodology was developed to incorporate the engineering properties of these unique composite materials into the design. The bridge consists of two 13 x 32 ft (3.96 x 9.75 m) sections joined by a unique longitudinal joint. The sections have sandwich construction consisting of a core [28 in. (71.12 cm) deep] and facesheets [0.4 to 0.6 in. (10.16 to 15.24 mm) thick] that provide shear and flexural rigidity, respectively. The composite bridge was fabricated with E-glass preforms and vinyl-ester resin, which offers excellent structural performance and long-term durability. Each of the sections was fabricated to near-net shape in a single step by a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. The overall structural behavior has been accurately predicted with simple design equations based on sandwich theory for anisotropic materials. Large-scale testing of full-sized subcomponents was conducted to prove that the design satisfied deflection, fatigue, and strength limit states. A redundant longitudinal joint was designed that consisted of both an adhesively bonded vertical joint between sections and splice plates. Assembly procedures were developed, and transverse testing of the full-sized joint was conducted. Final bridge sections were proof-tested to the strength limit state. The construction phase included section positioning, joint assembly, and application of a latex-modified concrete wear surface. The bridge was reopened to traffic on November 20, 1998. Results from the long-term monitoring effort will be documented.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309071224
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1696, Fifth International Bridge Engineering Conference, April 3-5, 2000, Tampa, Florida, Volume 2. The revised name of this series is Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board.
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Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Authors:
- Gillespie Jr, J W
- Eckel II, D A
- Edberg, W M
- Sabol, S A
- Mertz, D R
- Chajes, M J
- Shenton III, H W
- Hu, C
- Chaudhri, M
- Faqiri, A
- Soneji, J
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Conference:
- Fifth International Bridge Engineering Conference
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Date: 2000-4-3 to 2000-4-5
- Publication Date: 2000
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Figures; Photos;
- Pagination: p. 118-123
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Record
- Issue Number: 1696
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0361-1981
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bridges; Composite materials; Deflection; Design; Durability; Erection (Building); Fabrication; Fatigue (Mechanics); Load and resistance factor design; Longitudinal joints; Monitoring; Performance; Sandwich construction; Strength of materials; Testing
- Uncontrolled Terms: E-glass preforms; Vinyl-ester resins
- Geographic Terms: Glasgow (Delaware); Muddy Run Creek
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00789727
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 0309071224
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Mar 8 2000 12:00AM