A smoothness provision for bridge decks

This paper describes a contemporary survey of bridge ride quality and discusses its use to support the development of a modern smoothness provision for bridge decks. The survey found that bridges have an average of 60 percent more roughness than most mainline highway pavements (as measured through the International Roughness Index [IRI]). However, a secondary analysis revealed that beam and girder camber could easily contribute more than 1000 mm/km of IRI roughness, which suggests that IRI may not be an equitable tool for measuring construction quality of bridges. This finding led to an additional analysis that focused on a simulated rolling straightedge for use as a tool to control smoothness. Ultimately, the study demonstrated how inertial (and high-speed) profiling equipment can be applied to control bridge deck roughness through the use of a simulation that mimics the traditional 3-m straightedge.

• Authors:
  • McGhee, K
• Conference:
  • Pavement Evaluation Conference, 2002, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 21p
• Monograph Title: Comparison of non-destructive testing devices to determine in situ properties of asphalt concrete pavement layers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Bridge decks; Bridge management systems; Measuring instruments; Ride quality; Roughness; Superelevation
• ATRI Terms: Beam; Bridge deck; Bridge management; International roughness index (IRI); Measuring equipment; Riding quality; Transverse profile
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01443232
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 25 2012 1:10AM