01020839

Monograph

http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/156681.aspx

This synthesis may be useful to bridge owners and consulting engineers engaged in the design, inspection, and management of bridges with fracture-critical details, as a guide to present specifications and engineering judgment. It focuses on the inspection and maintenance of bridges with fracture-critical members (FCMs), as defined in the AASHTO "LRFD Bridge Design Specifications." The objectives of this report were to survey and identify gaps in the literature; determine practices and problems with how bridge owners define, identify, document, inspect, and manage bridges with fracture-critical details; and identify specific research needs. Among the areas examined were: inspection frequencies and procedures; methods for calculating remaining fatigue life; qualification, availability, and training of inspectors; cost of inspection programs; instances where inspection programs prevented failures; retrofit techniques; fabrication methods and inspections; and experience with FCM fractures and problems details. This synthesis contains information obtained from a survey distributed to bridge owners and consultant inspectors (72 state, provincial, and international departments of transportation and agencies), a literature search, and targeted interviews. Useful responses were received from 34 states and three Canadian provinces.

Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

Project 20-5 (Topic 35-08)

English

83p

2005

NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice

0309097614

Print

Appendices (4) ; Bibliography; Figures; Photos; References (112) ; Tables (4)

Bridge design; Costs; Inspection; Inspectors; Interviewing; Literature reviews; Maintenance; Qualifications; Research; Retrofitting; State of the practice; Surveys; Training

Bridge management; Fracture critical members

Bridges and other structures; Design; Education and Training; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Research; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Mar 29 2006 2:53PM