Optimizing Concrete Deck Removal in Concrete I-Girder Bridges

Current concrete bridge I-girders, such as NU girders, have unique characteristics compared to the standard AASHTO I-girders. These girders have a wide and thin top flange to improve lateral stability of long span girders during erection, provide adequate platform for workers, shorten deck span, and reduce girder weight. However, these features made the top flange more susceptible to damage during deck removal operations, which will be inevitably encountered soon as several bridges will require re-decking for structural and functional reasons in the near future. Therefore, there is an urgent need nationwide to determine the optimal deck removal method(s), with respect to their impact on girder top flange and shear connectors. These methods also need to be evaluated considering cost, time, noise, safety, and environmental criteria to ensure rapid construction, sustainability, optimal use of federal funds, and safety of workers and traveling public. The main objective of this project is to identify the deck removal method that is optimal for use in precast/prestressed concrete I-girder bridges, which represent over 50% of the bridges constructed in the last few decades. These methods include, but are not limited to: saw cutting, jackhammering, hydro-blasting, and combinations. The Eastbound of Camp Creek Bridge in Lancaster County, Nebraska, is scheduled for demolition in Fall 2012. The planned deck removal methods will be applied to this bridge. After deck removal, several girders will be inspected for damage, repaired, re-decked, and tested at the structural laboratory to evaluate their residual flexural and shear capacities.

• Record URL:
  http://matc.unl.edu/research/research_projects.php?researchID=408

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $56867.00
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT12-G-UTC07

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  University Transportation Centers Program
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  527 Nebraska Hall
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68588-0529
• Principal Investigators:

  Hempel, Michael

  Vranek, Charles

  Morcous, George

• Start Date: 20120701
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20131231
• Source Data: RiP Project 32774

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge decks; Concrete bridges; Construction management; Girders; Prestressed concrete bridges
• Uncontrolled Terms: I-girders; Removal (Structures)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Maintenance and Preservation; I30: Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01483152
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Mid-America Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: DTRT12-G-UTC07
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 5 2013 1:01AM