Optimization of Thrie Beam Terminal End Shoe Connection

Terminal thrie end shoes connect nested thrie beams to parapets or other bridge rail structure to provide a robust connectivity between a transition section and a rigid railing section. When connecting terminal end shoe to thrie beam transitions, the thrie section profile results in shifting of the connecting slots. This can result in slots misalignment, which makes installation and maintenance difficult. Multiple field adjustments are known to be used to fit the end shoe to the beam. Such methods include hammering drift pins to deform the metal, or torching or grinding away the interring material, all of which may compromise the integrity of the rail element. The goal of this project is to evaluate existing end shoe design and develop design improvements that will reduce or eliminate the need for field adjustments.

• Record URL:
  https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/9-1002-15-6.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32382
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office, P.O. Box 5080
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5080

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Abu-Odeh, Akram Y
  • Smith, Corey
  • Menges, Wanda L
  • Kuhn, Darrell L
• Publication Date: 2017-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Technical Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 52p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridge railings; Evaluation and assessment; Optimization; Structural connection; Thrie beams
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01638771
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-16/9-1002-15-6, 9-1002-15-6
• Contract Numbers: 9-1002-15
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 26 2017 9:30AM