Over-height truck impact with prestressed bridge girders

The devastating collapse of the Dali Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, due to a vessel collision, serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities in the nation’s infrastructure. The total structural failure led to the loss of six lives, while the $1.9 billion replacement cost underscores the urgent need for improved bridge resilience against extreme impact loads. Bridge collisions are a persistent and widespread hazard, ranking as the second leading cause of bridge failures nationwide. Between 2013 and 2018, an estimated 3,000 vehicle collisions with bridges occurred annually across the United States, with over-height vehicle impacts being among the most frequent and destructive. Prestressed concrete bridge girders, the backbone of many highway overpasses, are particularly vulnerable to such impacts, often resulting in costly repairs, reduced load capacity, or complete structural failure. This project aims to enhance the resilience of prestressed bridge girders against over-height truck impacts by investigating innovative repair and protection strategies. Through a combination of analytical modeling and experimental testing, this research will provide critical insights into the dynamic response of impacted girders and develop effective, practical repair solutions to extend bridge service life and improve safety.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $82,705.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348339

• Sponsor Organizations:

  University of Texas at Arlington

  Box 19308
  Arlington, TX  United States  76019-0308
• Managing Organizations:

  Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla

  Department of Engineering
  202 University Center
  Rolla, MO    65409
• Performing Organizations:

  Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla

  Department of Engineering
  202 University Center
  Rolla, MO    65409
• Principal Investigators:

  ElGawady, Mohamed

• Start Date: 20250601
• Expected Completion Date: 20270531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Girders; Impact loads; Overpasses; Prestressed concrete; Truck crashes
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01999119
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Durable and Resilient Transportation Infrastructure
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348339
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Aug 13 2026 3:31PM