Evaluation of Seamless Bridges
Conventional bridges use expansion joints to accommodate movements primarily caused by temperature changes in the bridge superstructure. However, water and contaminants that pass through the joints tend to accelerate deterioration of girders, bearings and substructure elements. The seamless bridge concept, which was first developed in Australia, eliminates the use of expansion joints between the bridge deck and the continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP). Implementation of this technology has been reported to delay deterioration of bridge elements and totally eliminates the need for routine joint maintenance. In this project, the Research Team shall conduct fundamental and applied research techniques to develop comprehensive design guidelines for implementing seamless bridge technology in Texas. The primary goals of the project include the following: (a) characterize the interaction between CRCP in a transition slab and different base materials with and without bond breakers utilizing full-scale experiments, (b) develop modeling techniques to analyze the structural response of seamless bridge systems, © develop guidelines for determining the optimal length of the transition slab and corresponding reinforcing steel, (d) identify design issues associated with the use of a seamless connection for standard bridge structures, and monitor the field performance of a bridge constructed using a seamless transition..
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $810497
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Contract Numbers:
0-7011
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Sponsor Organizations:
Texas Department of Transportation
11th and Brazos Streets
Austin, TX United States 78701 -
Managing Organizations:
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX United States 78701-2483 -
Project Managers:
Steele, Joanne
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Performing Organizations:
Center for Transportation Research
3925 W. Braker Lane
Austin, TX United States 78759 -
Principal Investigators:
Helwig, Todd A.
- Start Date: 20190719
- Expected Completion Date: 20230831
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bridge design; Expansion joints; Slabs
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01723852
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: 0-7011
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Nov 27 2019 1:27PM