Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 53-06. Local Calibration of LRFD Geotechnical Resistance Factors

The load and resistance factor design (LRFD) framework for foundations of bridges and other structures provides state departments of transportation (DOTs) the opportunity to adapt and improve local resistance factors—other than those generally prescribed in the code—based on geology, design practice, and construction methods through statistics and reliability analysis. The codified AASHTO LRFD resistance factors were developed based on load tests conducted across the country, with variable conditions and practices. This approach, while allowing broad applicability, results in comparatively large coefficients of variation and conservative resistance factors. While many DOTs use these codified resistance factors, others have invested in evaluation of local geology and local design practice, and have established and adopted resistance factors for these specific design or construction practices. DOTs have used different methods to locally calibrate various resistance factors associated with different design methodologies or foundation construction control. The objective of this synthesis is to document the extent to which state DOTs have developed local resistance factor calibration, methods used for development, which factors have been calibrated, and how locally calibrated factors have been used.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5111

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $45000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-05, Topic 53-06

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Gause, Jo

• Performing Organizations:

  Dan Brown and Associates

  ,   United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Boeckmann, Andrew

• Start Date: 20210921
• Expected Completion Date: 20230502
• Actual Completion Date: 20230502

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calibration; Foundations; Geotechnical engineering; Literature reviews; Load and resistance factor design; State departments of transportation; Surveys
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01771594
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic 53-06
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 17 2021 10:52PM