In the state of Ohio, semi-integral bridges have become more popular because these bridges eliminate high maintenance joints. The girders in a semi-integral bridge are encased in a diaphragm supported on elastomeric pads that bear on the abutment. Movement of the diaphragm caused by thermal change is theoretically resisted by backfill and also by the wingwalls for skewed bridges. The wingwalls are subjected to forces as a skewed bridge rotates during thermal expansion.
This project was designed to enhance the Virginia Department of Transportation's expertise in the design of integral bridges, particularly as it applies to highly skewed structures. Specifically, the project involves extensive monitoring of a semi-integral (integral backwall) bridge with a 45-degree skew. Long-term, continuous monitoring of strains developed in foundation piles, earth pressures exerted on the backwall by the adjacent approach embankment, and concrete buttress reactions preventing the superstructure from rotating in the horizontal plane will be performed. Overall, 120 strain gages, 16 earth pressure cells, and 2 high-capacity load cells, interfaced with electronic dataloggers, will be used in the study. This report provides a record of work carried out from the start of construction in January 2006 to the beginning of May 2006. It specifically describes the instrumentation of the bridge. Future reports will provide an analysis of the results of the field monitoring program. The study is expected to continue for the next 2 years in order to capture the bridge's response over a wide range of climatic conditions.
Includes case histories of the Dumbarton Bridge (San Francisco Bay, Calif.), the Rainier Avenue Embankment (Seattle, Wash.) and the Gallows Road Grade Separation (Fairfax, Va.)
First Published in 1999: The Bridge Engineering Handbook is a unique, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art reference work and resource book covering the major areas of bridge engineering with the theme "bridge to the 21st century."
The purpose of this document is to identify and provide design guidelines for bridge scour and stream instability countermeasures that have been implemented by various State departments of transportation (DOTs) in the United States. Countermeasure experience, selection, and design guidance are consolidated from other FHWA publications in this document to support a comprehensive analysis of scour and stream instability problems and provide a range of solutions to those problems. The results of recently completed National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) projects are incorporated in the design guidance, including: countermeasures to protect bridge piers and abutments from scour; riprap design criteria, specifications, and quality control, and environmentally sensitive channel and bank protection measures. Selected innovative countermeasure concepts and guidance derived from practice outside the United States are introduced. In addition, guidance for the preparation of Plans of Action ...
This textbook covers the very wide spectrum of all aspects of railway engineering for all engineering disciplines, in a 'broad brush' way giving a good overall knowledge of what is involved in planning, designing, constructing and maintaining a railway. It covers all types of railway systems including light rail and metro as well as main line. The first edition has proved very popular both with students new to railways and with practicing engineers who need to work in this newly expanding area.In the second edition, the illustrations have been improved and brought up to date, particularly with the introduction of 30 colour pages which include many newly taken photographs. The text has been reviewed for present day accuracy and, where necessary, has been modified or expanded to include reference to recent trends or developments. New topics include automatic train control, level crossings, dot matrix indicators, measures for the mobility impaired, reinforced earth structures, air conditioning, etc. Recent railway experience, both technical and political, has also been reflected in the commentary.