IMPLEMENTATION AND NON-DESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL SHAPES IN THE TOM'S CREEK BRIDGE

A bridge rehabilitation utilizing a hybrid fiber reinforced polymeric composite has been completed in Blacksburg, Virginia. This project involved replacing the superstructure in the Tom's Creek Bridge, a rural short-span traffic bridge with a timber deck and corroded steel girders, with a glue-laminated timber deck on composite girders. In order to verify the bridge design and to address construction issues prior to the rehabilitation, a full-scale mock-up of the bridge was built and tested in the laboratory. This set-up utilized the actual composite beams, glue-laminated timber deck panels, and geometry to be implemented in the rehabilitation. After the rehabilitation was completed, the bridge was field tested under a known truckload. Both tests examined service load deflections, girder strains, load distribution, the degree of composite action, inter-panel deck deflections, and impact factor. The field test results indicate a service load deflection of L/400 under moving loads and a factor of safety of over 7 using the projected A-allowable for beam flexural strength. The data from the field test serves as a baseline reference for future field durability assessments as part of a long-term performance and durability study.

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• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/19516
• Corporate Authors:

  Virginia Transportation Research Council

  530 Edgemont Road
  Charlottesville, VA  United States  22903

  Virginia Department of Transportation

  Office of Public Affairs, 1221 East Broad Street
  Richmond, VA  United States  23219

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hayes, M D
  • Haramis, J
  • Lesko, J J
  • Cousins, T E
  • Duke, J C
  • Weyers, R E
• Publication Date: 2000-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 35 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Bridge superstructures; Composite materials; Deflection; Durability; Fiber reinforced plastics; Fiber reinforced polymers; Field tests; Girders; Highway bridges; Laboratory tests; Laminated wood; Load transfer; Nondestructive tests; Performance; Prototype tests; Rehabilitation (Maintenance); Safety factors; Strain (Mechanics)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Composite action
• Geographic Terms: Blacksburg (Virginia)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00800224
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/VTRC 00-CR7,, Final Contract Report
• Contract Numbers: 5105-020
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 17 2000 12:00AM