U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| Project Information | ||
| Project ID: | FHWA-PROJ-12-0102 | |
| Project Name: | Rapid Load Rating of Concrete Bridges | |
| Project Status: | Active | |
| Start Date: | June 1, 2012 | |
| End Date: | June 18, 2013 | |
| Contact Information | ||
| Last Name: | Rivers | |
| First Name: | Benjamin | |
| Telephone: | 404-562-3926 | |
| E-mail: | Benjamin.Rivers@dot.gov | |
| Office: | Office of Infrastructure Research and Development | |
| Team: | Infrastructure Management Team [HRDI-60] | |
| Program: | Flexible Funding | |
| Laboratory: | Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Laboratory | |
| Project detail | ||
| Roadmap/Focus area(s): | Infrastructure Research and Technology Strategic Plan and Roadmap | |
| Project Description: | The project will develop a tentative technical approach identifying what, how, when, where, and for how long data needs to be collected, as well as how it might be used to produce ratings. The statistical and reliability theories employed by the Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) Specifications shall be reviewed for requirements and restrictions applicable to processes or procedures for the actual collection of data when developing this plan. After the plan has been approved by the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR), the contractor shall conduct market research on sensors and data gathering technologies to determine if there are commercially available systems that will collect long-term field measurements of bridge data (strains and possibly deflections) under regular highway/roadway traffic. These sensors and data collection systems shall have the capability of gathering the data without having to impede traffic with lane closures or other forms of work zone traffic control. Rating equations and possible algorithms shall be developed. The equations and algorithms shall also utilize the statistical and reliability theory employed by the LRFR Specifications to produce reliability-based load ratings. Laboratory tests will be performed for validation of the equipment for use in the field without impact to traffic. After laboratory validation of the sensors and data collection systems and tools, field measurements will be taken with actual bridge traffic; however, consideration will be given to a heavy moving test load mixed with traffic, without interruption to traffic and without lane closures. A final report will document the entire research effort, including an American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) ballot item to be presented to AASHTO T-18 for consideration and possible incorporation into the AASHTO Bridge Evaluation Manual. | |
| Goals: |
The key project objective is to produce Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) procedures and tools for converting field measurements into load ratings for bridges that have calculated load ratings requiring them to be posted.
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| Product Type: | Draft standard, specifications, or guidelines Research report | |
| Test Methodology: | Expert Collaboration | |
| Expected Benefits: | The expected benefit is efficient use of existing structures through the use of site-specific data. | |
| Deliverables: | 1. Name: Final Report Product Type(s): Research report Description: The deliverable is a detailed report outlining the guidelines and the procedures for performing Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) procedures for response-based rapid load rating of steel bridges to be provided to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Subcommittee T-18 for evaluation. 2. Name: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Ballot Item Product Type(s): Draft standard, specifications, or guidelines Description: The deliverable is an American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) ballot item to be presented to AASHTO T-18 for consideration and possible incorporation into the AASHTO Bridge Evaluation Manual to incorporate the findings of this report. | |
| FHWA Topics: | Research/Technologies--Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) | |
| TRT Terms: | Investigation of Structure Measurement Inspection Testing Equipment Live Loads Load Factor Traffic Control Infrastructure Bridges Load Rating |
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| FHWA Disciplines: | Structures |
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| Subject Areas: | Bridges and other structures |
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