Bridge Technology | |||
FHWA > Infrastructure > Bridge > LRFD | |||
Staff: Dedicate staff for LRFD planning and design (and studies if needed) and train the initial design and study squad in LRFD. Utilize FHWA and other LRFD states help.
Design Transition Strategy: Set a target date for full LRFD implementation on all new and replacement bridges and on all in-house and consultant projects. Do in-house trial LRFD design of LFD projects (or have pilot LRFD projects) to develop questions and resolutions, and develop a comfort zone with LRFD. After the trial/pilot projects, either phase in LRFD design in increments up to the target date, or have a one-step conversion to LRFD. The latter should help you minimize the problem of maintaining two separate design specifications and manuals. Anticipate a slight delay in the design of the pilot projects and; therefore, the pilot projects should be selected carefully not only to represent routinely designed bridges but also to be of a low priority.
Software: Acquire a computer program for LRFD if you have one existing for LFD (or update your LFD programs). There are many states and private LRFD software available for steel and concrete bridge superstructures and concrete substructures (see appended list of resources)
Training: Sponsor an in-house training for all of your designers (by in-house instructors, by local universities instructors, by industry, or by FHWA). Since one of the best methods of learning is a real hands-on experience, acquire LRFD design examples and software for training. Require that consultants attend LRFD training before they perform LRFD designs in your state. For a list of design examples and training resources, see the appended list of resources.
Technical Support: Have a mechanism to have your questions answered. Utilize your LRFD team, States, industry, universities, and FHWA resources. Might want to retain a firm experienced in LRFD for questions.
Documentation Support: Update your standards, manuals, and guidance for LRFD. If you do not have any standardized designs, you might want to develop predesigned LRFD decks and barriers to shorten the design process. Might want to hire a firm experienced in LRFD to update your existing materials to LRFD. Update of manual can be concurrent with the pilot project and the standards can be of a second priority to the design manual.
Fine-Tune Documentations: After your pilot project and/or full LRFD conversion, fine-tune your LRFD standards, manuals, and guidance if and when needed.