COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This 2.5-day course presents the second half of the five-day course (Course No. FHWA-NHI-130095). It expands the suite of FHWA services to assist State and local governments in a successful implementation of Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD). This course applies the principles of LRFD to the design of skewed and horizontally curved steel bridges. For structural applications, the curriculum follows the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 5th Edition, 2010 (AASHTO LRFD Specifications). The training course focuses primarily on the design of skewed and horizontally curved steel I-girder bridges. However, the accompanying Reference Manual also includes design examples for horizontally curved steel box-girder bridges.

This course provides a combination of instructor-led discussions and workshop exercises. It includes LRFD theory applied to design examples, and it illustrates step-by-step LRFD design procedures for skewed and curved steel bridges. The course includes participant exercises in which students apply the LRFD principles to specific applications, guided walk-throughs in which the instructor guides the participants through design examples, case studies in which real-life examples are used to illustrate the principles being learned, as well as models to help participants observe firsthand the behavior of skewed and curved bridges.

The curriculum materials are comprised of a comprehensive Reference Manual, lecture and workshop exercises intended to promote and enhance a working knowledge of the AASHTO LRFD Specifications as they apply to skewed and curved steel bridges, and a Participant Workbook containing slides, design examples, exercises, narrative descriptions and room for participant notes.

The curriculum material contains the following major topics:

1. Design (preliminary design decisions, girder design verifications and design detail items)

2. Fabrication and construction

OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the bridge superstructure design, fabrication and construction process for skewed or horizontally curved steel I-girder superstructures and for horizontally curved steel box-girder superstructures in accordance with the AASHTO LRFD Specifications
• Illustrate the application of the AASHTO LRFD Specifications to the design process for skewed and curved steel-bridge superstructures, taking into account erection and construction considerations
• Demonstrate understanding of design specification requirements for skewed and curved steel girder bridges through the completion of participant exercises and guided walk-throughs and the review of design examples
• Successfully complete applicable Learning Outcome Assessments with a combined score of 70 percent or higher

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This course has been developed for the needs of practicing public and private sector structural and bridge engineers with 0 to approximately 20 years of experience. The primary audience is Host Agency and consultant structural designers. Pre-training Competencies: Individuals attending this course should have a minimum BSCE degree and have a working knowledge of the current AASHTO LRFD Specifications or the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges. They should also have relevant design experience using either of these specifications on at least one bridge superstructure.

If you have questions about this NHI training, please contact NHI at nhicustomerservice@dot.gov or 877.558.6873.