2302 Load Test Monitoring of I-235 Bridge Repairs

In response to national issues with grouting errors, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has required all of the state departments of transportation (DOTs) to inspect their post tensioned grouted tendons. Based on these inspections, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) discovered some issues regarding the I-235 bridge west of the state capitol. Older methods used during construction of this bridge led to some problems in the post-tensioning ducts. Not until relative recent years have DOT’s required the use of thixotropic grouts for post-tensioning. Older grouts did not perform as well as the thixotropic grouts and tended to flow away from the high points leaving only water. Newer designs require additional vents especially at the high points. This project was directed at filling grout voids but stumbled into a few locations that did not have any grout. There were three locations where the grout voids were compounded by moisture leaking into the joints resulting in section loss to the prestressing strands. The ODOT Bridge Division hired a company (Gibson and Associates) to inspect the post tensioning ducts, develop a plan, and implement repairs. Gibson and Associates hired VSL to fill the grout voids in the ducts. Due to concerns with section loss of the previously exposed prestressing strands, ODOT restricted permit traffic from travelling over the bridge. However, ODOT calculations show that a posting is not required. The approximate replacement cost for the bridge including the on-ramp is estimated to be $50 million. As such, health monitoring of the bridge is justified. The research team at Oklahoma State University intends to help ODOT in the assessment of these repairs by performing an array of nondestructive tests including live load testing, strain monitoring, and acoustic emissions monitoring. The objective of the project is to assess and monitor the repairs to the regrouted post tensioned tendons in the I-235 bridge. The anticipated benefit of the project is to provide insight into the effectiveness of the regrouted tendon repairs and monitor their behavior over time. This knowledge will be valuable in future decisions on safety and maintenance of the monitored bridge members.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $86000
• Contract Numbers:

  SPR Implementation 2300(16-04)

  2302

  SPRY-0010(082)RS

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Oklahoma Department of Transportation

  200 NE 21st Street
  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73105
• Project Managers:

  Peters, Walt

  Hook, Gary

• Performing Organizations:

  Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

  School of Civil & Environmental Engineering
  Stillwater, OK  United States  74078
• Principal Investigators:

  Emerson, Robert

• Start Date: 20171001
• Expected Completion Date: 20220930
• Actual Completion Date: 20230930

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridge engineering; Grouting; Load tests; Posttensioning; Prestressed concrete bridges; Prestressing; Tendons (Materials); Tension; Tension tests; Tensioning
• Geographic Terms: Oklahoma
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01622700
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Oklahoma Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: SPR Implementation 2300(16-04), 2302, SPRY-0010(082)RS
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 18 2017 3:07PM