NONSTRUCTURAL EVALUATION OF COMPETING BRIDGE MATERIALS

Bridge material selection is the most important decision for a bridge designer in terms of long-term consequences. As new materials enter the market for bridge applications, a thorough understanding of a highway official's perception of the materials will allow manufacturers to better accommodate their needs. Perceptions of major bridge materials by three distinct groups of decision makers were studied within five geographic regions in the United States. Prestressed concrete, steel, timber, and reinforced concrete were the materials compared. Bridge materials were compared on perceived performance as well as eight other preselected attributes. Important factors in the bridge decision process were identified. Comparisons were made on decision making group and geographic region. Overall, the highest perceived performance was earned by prestressed concrete followed by reinforced concrete, steel, and timber. Perceptional maps provide insight for those manufacturers hoping to improve their perceived performance. Areas of future research for bridge materials were identified.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08991561
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Smith, R L
  • Bush, R J
• Publication Date: 1996-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 88-93
• Serial:
  • Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0899-1561
  • EISSN: 1943-5533
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jmcee7

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Areas; Bridge design; Bridges; Decision making; Materials selection; Perception; Performance; Structural design
• Old TRIS Terms: Geographic areas
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00723365
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1996 12:00AM