SEAHIVE® solutions to mitigate bridge scour – Phase II

This one-year proposal is for Phase II of the three-phase project conducted in partnership with Texas State University. Specifically, this study will investigate the performance of the SEAHIVE® system in mitigating bridge scour. SEAHIVE® is a modular engineered protection system composed of concrete perforated hexagonal prisms. Perforations on the side faces of the elements provide passage for water flow dissipating the energy within the system while also adding structural complexity which improves its potential for habitat creation. This Phase II will focus on the production of internally-prestressed units using conventional precast beds currently available for producing 30-inch square piles. Using this technique, it will be possible to increase production efficiency and, as importantly, manufacture units of lengths up to 24 ft. that could be necessary for scouring applications in marine and riverine environments. The units produced with this technology will be fully characterized and their behavior compared to others produced by wet-cast (no prestressing) and externally- prestressed. This latter objective will be accomplished through laboratory testing in compression and bending of units designed aiming to the same structural performance. In order to guarantee the durability of the precast elements subjected to harsh wet-and-dry conditions, the prestressing tendons will be made of #3 (3/8 in.-diameter) glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars shipped to the precast plant in coils. In fact, no steel reinforcement will be used to avoid corrosion. The anchors for tensioning will be conventionally split-wedges and sleeves used for 0.375 in. seven-wire steel strands. It is expected that these units will perform in flexure as partially prestressed longitudinal members. In addition to being cost-effective, this method of construction also enables greater distress to be observed for load conditions above the Service Limit State through the prevalence of transverse cracking without any concerns for corrosion due to the inert prestressing tendons. The project has the potential to create a consortium-wide effort for implementing the SEAHIVE® system into practice providing a novel efficient and ecofriendly solution for scour mitigation in bridge foundations.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $193305
• Contract Numbers:

  CREATE UTC Contract Number 69A3552348330

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Coastal Research and Education Actions for Transportation Equity

  Texas State University
  San Marcos, TX  United States  77666

  University of Miami

  1320 S. Dixie Highway
  Ste. 650
  Coral Gables, FL  United States  33146
• Managing Organizations:

  Coastal Research and Education Actions for Transportation Equity

  Texas State University
  San Marcos, TX  United States  77666
• Project Managers:

  Bruner, Britain

  Kulesza, Stacey

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Miami

  1320 S. Dixie Highway
  Ste. 650
  Coral Gables, FL  United States  33146
• Principal Investigators:

  Nanni, Antonio

  Barbarigos, Landolf

• Start Date: 20240601
• Expected Completion Date: 20250531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridge foundations; Concrete; Erosion; Glass fiber reinforced concrete; Scour
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01929243
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Coastal Research and Education Actions for Transportation Equity
• Contract Numbers: CREATE UTC Contract Number 69A3552348330
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Aug 29 2024 5:14PM