Long-Term Performance Monitoring of the Tech 21 All-Composite Bridge

Tech 21 (Smith Road Bridge, Hamilton, Ohio) is the third all-composite vehicular bridge installed in the United States. The deck has sandwich configuration with a center core made by bonding orthotropic fiberglass and polyester tubes. The three trapezoidal beams supporting the deck were fabricated using E-glass fibers with polyester resin. Each beam was fabricated as an integral unit with its deck section to facilitate transportation to the site, erection, and construction. The two-lane bridge is the first fully instrumented all-composite vehicular bridge, including an extensive health-monitoring system installed during its fabrication. A nearly four-year long continuous monitoring was carried out to demonstrate the performance of the bridge. Field monitored information was studied to evaluate the behavior and durability of composites in the harsh infrastructure environment. This evaluation determines the level of confidence in the long-term field benefits of composite materials and technology.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10900268
• Authors:
  • Farhey, Daniel N
• Publication Date: 2005-5-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Serial:
  • Journal of Composites for Construction
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1090-0268
  • EISSN: 1943-5614
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jccof2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Bridges; Composite construction; Composite structures; Fiber reinforced materials; Fiber reinforced plastics; Fiber reinforced polymers; Field tests; Monitoring; Performance evaluations
• Identifier Terms: Tech 21
• Geographic Terms: Ohio
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01001321
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 2005 9:49AM