READY FOR THE ANY DAY EVENT : FHWA OUTLINES A PLAN FOR MINIMIZING THE EFFECTS OF AN UNPREDICTABLE NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER ON U.S. BRIDGES

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has proposed a bridge research and technology program for investigating methods and technologies that will make bridges safer. The program, Bridges for the 21st Century, would have as its goal the safeguarding of the nation's highway bridge infrastructure against natural or man-made disaster. For instance, there is much research yet to be done in the area of bridges and earthquakes. Researchers have an incomplete understanding of the effects of seismic activity on highly skewed bridges, old flared columns and bridges built using poor construction practices. There are also research opportunities in the area of soil- structure interactions, and the effects of flooding and of wind on bridges could be further researched. But natural disaster is not the only cause of bridge deterioration and collapse. Due to their excessive weight, shipping trucks take a toll on highway pavements and bridges, and since September 11, 2001, bridges have been considered a possible target for terrorist groups. The FHWA proposal, by focusing on the development and implementation of new technologies, would address these dangers.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/11660022
• Corporate Authors:

  Scranton Gillette Communications

  380 E Northwest Highway, Suite 200
  Des Planes, IL  United States  60016-2282
• Authors:
  • Duwadi, S R
• Publication Date: 2003-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 27-31
• Serial:
  • Roads & Bridges
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Scranton Gillette Communications
  • ISSN: 8750-9229
  • Serial URL: http://www.roadsbridges.com/rb/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Bridges; Crashes; Earthquakes; Emergency management; Floods; Loads; Scour; Terrorism
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00963493
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 2 2003 12:00AM