TRC2502: Development of Modern Methods for Evaluation of Timber Pile Capacity
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is responsible for inspecting and maintaining hundreds of timber pile bridges. Approximately 30% of these timber pile bridges are in poor condition, and the current ARDOT protocol for timber pile testing doesn't provide an actual pile capacity value that may be used to load-rate the structure. Although poor cross-sectional properties are identified from the measurement curve, the actual pile capacity is not determined. This research will utilize a combination of the IML PowerDrill and IML Fractometer II to determine timber pile capacity and define pile degradation curves, establishing equations for pile capacity based on pile characteristics and age. These thresholds will inform a system of determining pile quality, allowing ARDOT to implement measures to estimate the remaining service life of timber piles before they become structurally deficient and maintain an accurate database of bridges in need of replacement or rehabilitation or those that have failed. This research also aims to update current timber pile bridge inspection guidelines and develop a manual for determining pile capacity in the field.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Programmed
- Funding: $300481
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Sponsor Organizations:
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590Arkansas Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 2261
Little Rock, AR United States 72203 -
Managing Organizations:
Arkansas Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 2261
Little Rock, AR United States 72203 -
Project Managers:
Simecek, Mark
- Start Date: 20240901
- Expected Completion Date: 0
- Actual Completion Date: 20260630
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bearing capacity; Bridge management systems; Maintenance management; Pile foundations; Wooden bridges
- Geographic Terms: Arkansas
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01929219
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Arkansas Department of Transportation
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Aug 29 2024 12:29PM