QUALITY ASSURANCE OF STRUCTURAL MATERIALS

This study examines the state of the practice of quality assurance (QA) related to critical structural materials and components: those for which failure poses a threat to public safety or to the integrity of the transportation system (e.g., bridge girders, bridge columns, and sign/signal/luminaire supports). The study focuses on conventional structural materials (e.g., steel, concrete, wood, and aluminum), which comprise the vast majority of highway structures in use or in the planning and design stages. Brief coverage of some newer materials in the highway infrastructure, such as fiber-reinforced polymers, high-performance concrete, and high-performance steel, is provided. The intent of the report is to discuss problems (both perceived and real) that arise from insufficient or potentially inappropriate QA practices, indicate potential opportunities for improvement to practices through additional or revised practices, and discuss the state of the practice with respect to how most agencies currently are operating.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rrd_274.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Publication Date: 2003-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 21 p.
• Serial:
  • NCHRP Research Results Digest
  • Issue Number: 274
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Columns; Concrete; Fiber reinforced plastics; Girders; High performance concrete; Luminaires; Quality assurance; Sign supports; State of the practice; Steel; Structural materials; Wood
• Uncontrolled Terms: High performance steel; Signal supports
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I30: Materials; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962798
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 5 2003 12:00AM