Analytical and Experimental Evaluation of the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Current Bridge Rating System

Analytical and Experimental Evaluation of the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Current Bridge Rating System
Author: Timothy O'Brien Lawrence
Publisher:
Total Pages: 428
Release: 2004
Genre: Bridges
ISBN:

In an effort to determine if current load rating procedures in use by the NCDOT are valid, UNC-Charlotte selected seven bridges to test. The bridges were instrumented to record deflections and strains as a selected vehicle traveled along predetermined paths. These recorded deflection and strain values were compared with predicted values and used to determine the actual behavior of the bridges. Predicting the behavior of Bridge 12-0271, a reinforced concrete deck girder bridge, was very difficult. Reasons for this unpredictability include the unknown current concrete compressive strength and the affect of the railing and curb, which were demonstrated to provide significant stiffening through the test strain readings and a finite element analysis. A second bridge, Bridge 12-0227, a non-composite steel girder bridge, was more predictable. It produced strains that indicated the bridge is acting with some degree of fixity and composite interaction between the girder and the deck. The current NCDOT load rating procedures produce reasonable results. Distribution factors (DF) had the greatest impact on the load ratings. Both bridges yielded maximum test DFs that were near the current AASHTO recommended values under dynamic loading. By measuring the strains with a portable data acquisition system, the field-measured distribution factors could be used to increase the load rating. The LRFD DFs could also be used and further increase the load ratings, due to the consideration of the section properties.

Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences

Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences
Author: Wade H. Shafer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 391
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1461524539

Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences was first conceived, published, and disseminated by the Center for Information and Numerical Data Analysis and Synthesis (CINDAS)* at Purdue University in 1957, starting its coverage of theses with the academic year 1955. Beginning with Volume 13, the printing and dis semination phases of the activity were transferred to University Microfilms/Xerox of Ann Arbor, Michigan, with the though that such an arrangement would be more beneficial to the academic and general scientific and technical community. After five years of this joint undertaking we had concluded that it was in the interest of all concerned if the printing and distribution of the volumes were handled by an international publishing house to assure improved service and broader dissemi nation. Hence, starting with Volume 18, Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences has been disseminated on a worldwide basis by Plenum Publishing Corporation of New York, and in the same year the coverage was broadened to include Canadian universities. All back issues can also be ordered from Plenum. We have reported in Volume 37 (thesis year 1992) a total of 12,549 thesis titles from 25 Canadian and 153 United States universities. We are sure that this broader base for these titles reported will greatly enhance the value of this impor tant annual reference work. While Volume 37 reports theses submitted in 1992, on occasion, certain uni versities do report theses submitted in previous years but not reported at the time.

Bridge Dynamics and Dynamic Amplification Factors - a Review of Analytical and Experimental Findings

Bridge Dynamics and Dynamic Amplification Factors - a Review of Analytical and Experimental Findings
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 19
Release: 1992
Genre:
ISBN:

The dynamic amplification factor (DAF) is an important parameter in the design of highway bridges and yet no worldwide consensus has been reached so far as to its value. Some disagreement exists between provisions of various national bridge codes. This is because the DAF depends, in addition to the maximum span or the natural frequency, on many other parameters that are difficult to take into account with reasonable accuracy. Vehicle speed, weight, and dynamic characteristics, the state of the structure, roadway roughness, expansion joints, the type of bridge supports, soil-structure interaction, and influence of secondary elements are some aspects influencing the DAF. This study reviews the analytical and experimental findings on bridge dynamics and the evaluation of the DAF.

Dynamic Field Testing of the Route 58 Meherrin River Bridge

Dynamic Field Testing of the Route 58 Meherrin River Bridge
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 37
Release: 1996
Genre: Bridges
ISBN:

Dynamic response has long been recognized as one of the significant factors affecting the service life and safety of bridge structures, and considerable research, both analytical and experimental, has been devoted to this area of behavior. In the design of most contemporary bridges, dynamic effects are included in the form of equivalent static loads. However, design considerations rarely include an evaluation of the structural and geometric parameters of the superstructure that influence dynamic response. Further research is needed to clarify the dynamic behavior of bridge structures and the corresponding physical characteristics that affect the response. The primary objective of this investigation was to determine and evaluate the dynamic response of a typical simple span bridge that had unexpectedly large oscillations under normal traffic loading. This was accomplished through a series of field tests in which the response was measured using accelerometers and strain gages. To supplement these data, analytical models (finite element models) representative of the bridge structure were developed to predict the dynamic response. The field data were used to validate the models. The refined models were then used for parameter studies in evaluating the effect of various factors on bridge response. The results of this investigation provided insight into the dynamic response of a typical simple span bridge constructed in accordance with AASHTO specifications.

Topics in Dynamics of Bridges, Volume 3

Topics in Dynamics of Bridges, Volume 3
Author: Alvaro Cunha
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 146
Release: 2014-07-08
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1461465192

Topics in Dynamics of Bridges, Volume 3: Proceedings of the 31st IMAC, A Conference and Exposition on Structural Dynamics, 2013, the third volume of seven from the Conference, brings together contributions to this important area of research and engineering. The collection presents early findings and case studies on fundamental and applied aspects of Structural Dynamics, including papers on: Vibration Monitoring Damping Damage Detection Health Monitoring Dynamic Behavior Dynamic Modeling Human-Induced Vibration

Highway Vehicle-bridge Coupled Vibrations: Numerical Simulations And Applications

Highway Vehicle-bridge Coupled Vibrations: Numerical Simulations And Applications
Author: Steve C S Cai
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 546
Release: 2020-09-23
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9811216436

Vehicle-bridge interaction happens all the time on roadway bridges and this interaction performance carries much useful information. On one hand, while vehicles are traditionally viewed as loads for bridges, they can also be deemed as sensors for bridges' structural response. On the other hand, while bridges are traditionally viewed as carriers for vehicle weight, they can also be deemed as scales that can weigh the vehicle loads. Based on these observations, a broad area of studies based on the vehicle-bridge interaction have been conducted in the authors' research group. Understanding the vehicle and bridge interaction can help develop strategies for bridge condition assessment, bridge design, and bridge maintenance, as well as develop insight for new research needs.This book documents fundamental knowledge, new developments, and state-of-the-art applications related to vehicle-bridge interactions. It thus provides useful information for graduate students and researchers and therefore straddles the gap between theoretical research and practical applications.

Structural Dynamics

Structural Dynamics
Author: Harry Grundmann
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 880
Release: 2002
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9789058095114

The proceedings contain contributions presented by authors from more than 30 countries at EURODYN 2002. The proceedings show recent scientific developments as well as practical applications, they cover the fields of theory of vibrations, nonlinear vibrations, stochastic dynamics, vibrations of structured elements, wave propagation and structure-borne sound, including questions of fatigue and damping. Emphasis is laid on vibrations of bridges, buildings, railway structures as well as on the fields of wind and earthquake engineering, repectively. Enriched by a number of keynote lectures and organized sessions the two volumes of the proceedings present an overview of the state of the art of the whole field of structural dynamics and the tendencies ot its further development.