Structural Integrity, Safety, and Durability of Critical Members and Connections of Old Railroad Bridges under Dynamic Service Loads and Conditions (1.13)
Most of the New England railway bridges were designed and built more than a century ago with outdated design codes and materials. The objective of this research project is to investigate the structural behavior of critical members and connections, such as eye-bars, pins, and gusset plates (Fig. 1 and 2), of old truss-type steel railway bridges in the Northeast region under dynamic structural response factors such as service load, environmental conditions, and material aging. The proposed project will establish a systematic framework to apply analytical, computational, and experimental/field testing techniques to pinpoint, evaluate, and mitigate the damage in the connections between steel members in old railroad bridges. Starting with a critical review of the existing data of past connections issues and failure from selected bridges, the research team will work closely with New England’s Department of Transportation (DOTs) and railroad companies to generate reliable data recording and evaluation of bridge type versus connections problems, existing mitigation methods, and current repair techniques. Existing data collected from operational and maintenance teams, such as images and reports, if available, will also be used. Updated Finite Element (FE) Models will be used to simulate different operation scenarios, such as braking and traction, to establish parameters to identify and analyze possible critical member’s connections under different scenarios. Similarly, the research will focus on the detailed local analysis of those critical connections, with an emphasis on dynamic behavior, impact, and material aging. The updated FE Model will be used to establish parameters to identify and evaluate critical member’s connections. An optimization of the number and location of sensors will be determined by using an optimization algorithm such as genetic algorithm, and will aim to develop an effective and efficient method of finding the location and severity of damage using vibration-based methods such as Modal Strain Energy Change in conjunction with some optimization algorithms. The output data from strain gauges and other sensors collected in field- and scaled- prototypes will be used to validate and verify the global, and local, FE model of the critical member’s connections. Finally, different connection strengthening and anti-wear methods will be evaluated and implemented numerically and analytically to check their effects on extending a bridge’s future life.
- Record URL:
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $380113
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Contract Numbers:
69A3551847101
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Sponsor Organizations:
Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center
University of Maine
Orono, ME United States 04469University of Connecticut, Storrs
Connecticut Transportation Institute
270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202
Storrs, CT United States 06269-5202Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center
University of Maine
Orono, ME United States 04469Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590University of Connecticut, Storrs
Connecticut Advanced Pavement Laboratory
270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202
Storrs, CT United States 06269-5202 -
Project Managers:
Dunn, Denise
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Performing Organizations:
Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center
University of Maine
Orono, ME United States 04469University of Connecticut, Storrs
Connecticut Advanced Pavement Laboratory
270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202
Storrs, CT United States 06269-5202 -
Principal Investigators:
Malla, Ramesh
- Start Date: 20211001
- Expected Completion Date: 20240930
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bridge members; Data collection; Finite element method; Railroad bridges; Sensors; Structural analysis
- Geographic Terms: New England
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01780652
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center
- Contract Numbers: 69A3551847101
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Aug 28 2021 6:02PM