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.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/1696-52
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=BRIDGE+1-351+OVER+MUDDY+RUN%3a+DESIGN%2c+TESTING%2c+AND+ERECTION+OF+AN+ALL-COMPOSITE+BRIDGE&author=J.+Gillespie&author=D.+Eckel&author=W.+Edberg&author=S.+Sabol&author=D.+Mertz&author=M.+Chajes&author=H.+Shenton&author=C.+Hu&author=M.+Chaudhri&author=A.+Faqiri&author=J.+Soneji&publication_year=2000
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309071224
• 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.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  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
• 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
• 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