FHWA Resource Center
STRUCTURES TEAM
Courses, Seminars, and Workshops offered by Resource Center specialists
BRIDGE SECURITY
• Blast Design & Analysis for Bridge Structures
• First Responder Awareness to Terrorist Threats for Bridges and Tunnels
• Risk Management for Terrorist Threats to Bridges and Tunnels
STRUCTURAL DESIGN:
• Seismic Design Workshop
BRIDGE SECURITY:
Blast Design & Analysis for Bridge
Structures
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Course Length: 12 hours (1 ½-Days)
The workshop is focused on the fundamentals of explosion effects—determining blast loads—on bridge structures, computing structural response to blast loads, and the design and retrofit of structures to resist blast effects. The emphasis will be on terrorist threats including the vehicle-borne improvised explosive devises (VBIED) and hand-emplaced improvised explosive devices (HEIED). Available software and publications will be discussed and demonstrated. How to use and obtain the software will also be covered in the workshop. Participant s will gain an understanding of how to compute blast loads on a structure and structural response to blast loading, as well as practical methods for designing and retrofitting structures to resist blast effects.
To schedule, contact: Waider Wong, Structural Engineer, (410) 962-9252, waider.wong@dot.gov
First Responder Awareness to
Terrorist Threats for Bridges and Tunnels
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Course Length: 4 Hours
The workshop is designed to give “First Responders”, such as law enforcement personnel, inspectors, and other emergency responders, an overall awareness of terrorist threats and structural vulnerabilities. More specifically, they will learn to identify strengths and weaknesses of bridge and tunnel components and the damage to be expected for terrorist threats. Threats covered include the vehicle-borne improvised explosive devises (VBIED), hand-emplaced improvised explosive devices (HEIED), non-explosive cutting devices (NECD), fire and vehicle impact.
To schedule, contact: Derrell Manceaux, Sr. Structural Engineer, (720) 963-3205, derrell.manceaux@dot.gov
Risk Management for Terrorist Threats to Bridges and Tunnels
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Course Length: 12 hours (1 ½ Days)
The workshop is designed to give Engineers and Managers the understanding to develop a cost-effective risk management plan for a structure using a component level analysis. More specifically, they will learn to identify strengths and weaknesses of bridge and tunnel components, the damage to be expected for terrorist threats, and how to analyze the risk of each component to a specific threat. Threats covered include the vehicle-borne improvised explosive devises (VBIED), hand-emplaced improvised explosive devices (HEIED), non-explosive cutting devices (NECD), fire and vehicle impact.
To schedule, contact: Derrell Manceaux, Sr. Structural Engineer, (720) 963-3205, derrell.manceaux@dot.gov
STRUCTURAL DESIGN:
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
Applications in Infrastructure
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Course Length: 2-Day to 3-Day
This is an introductory course to finite element analysis (FEA)
with emphasis in infrastructure applications. Course will present basic engineering concepts of FEA and mathematical formulation; constitutive modeling of steel, reinforced concrete and composite structures; techniques for linear static analysis, non-linear analysis, dynamic analysis and buckling analysis procedures. Demonstration of current state of the art FEA software will also be provided with overview of steps in finite element models preparations (geometry definition, mesh generation, load and boundary conditions and processing of results). The third day (optional) of the class will be focused on special FEA applications in structural evaluation of cargo tanks/pressure vessels, impact analysis and crash simulations of roadside hardware.
To schedule, contact: Waider Wong, Sr. Structural Engineer, (410) 962-9252, waider.wong@dot.gov
Seismic Design Workshop
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Course Length: 1-2 Days
Application of the AASHTO Specifications for seismic design. This course teaches how to apply the AASHTO approach to dynamic analysis and how AASHTO simulates “plastic” design concepts. Also, applicable detailing requirements are discussed.
Purpose and Background:
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recently approved two major changes to the seismic design of highway bridges. The first updates seismic provisions in the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, and the second adopts a new
Guide Specification for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design.
The updated seismic provisions in the 2007 edition of the LRFD specifications relate to:
(1) changing the return period of the design earthquake from 500 years to 1000 years; and
(2) keeping the specifications up-to-date and in-line with recent developments in the seismic design of bridges.
The change in return period for characterizing the seismic hazard required changing the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maps. These new maps not only give peak ground acceleration (PGA) but also two additional values of the spectral acceleration [at 0.2 seconds (Ss) and 1.0 second (S1)] allowing an improved spectral shape to be used for defining the seismic response coefficient. Consequential changes include new zone boundaries, soil factors, minimum design forces, introduction of P-∆ requirements, and a revised Ø factor for flexural resistance. In addition, new site soil classifications have been introduced.
The new Guide Specification for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design is an alternate, stand alone, set of provisions for the seismic design of bridges. The major difference between these provisions and those in the updated LRFD Bridge Design Specifications is the methodology used for determining design forces. Various displacement limit states are investigated. Accordingly, the R-factors in the current Guide Specification for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design are not used for concrete design. Since this methodology focuses on displacement, it is often referred to as “displacement based.” By con¬trast, the LRFD specifications are “force based.” Displacement based procedures are widely believed to lead to more efficient designs preventing collapse in high seismic zones. The anticipated effect of this new design methodology is improved performance of bridges during small and large earthquakes.
Seminar Benefits:
Apply the AASHTO Guide Specifications for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design
Learn more about the basis for the new design earthquake hazard of a 7.5 percent probability of exceedance in 75 years (i.e., 1000 year return period)
Understand and apply the principals of displacement based seismic design
Identify seismic vulnerabilities in existing bridge as observed in past earthquakes
Understand basic structural dynamics and the earthquake response of bridges
Develop alternative analytical models to determine the seismic response of a bridge using the available seismic design strategies
Learn about the computer programs specifically developed and used for seismic design, Specifications for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design
Learning Outcomes:
Apply analysis techniques to design of new bridges.
Apply the “AASHTO Guide Specifications for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design” to the design and analysis of new bridges
Who Should Attend:
Structural design engineers who are responsible for designing highway bridges will benefit from this workshop. Attendees should be engineers with seismic design experience.
To schedule, contact:
Derrell Manceaux, Sr. Structural Engineer, (720) 963-3205, derrell.manceaux@dot.gov
NHI Structures Courses
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN ISSUES:
FHWA-NHI-130081 LRFD for Highway Bridge Superstructures -- Concrete (2-Day)
FHWA-NHI-130081A LRFD for Highway Bridge Superstructures - Steel (2-Day)
FHWA-NHI-130081B LRFD for Highway Bridge Superstructures - Concrete (2.5-Day)
FHWA-NHI-130081C LRFD for Highway Bridge Superstructures - Steel (2.5-Day)
To learn more about scheduling an NHI course, please visit the NHI website
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
