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Join webinar with Hatem Seliem

Join our upcoming webinar with Hatem Seliem, Ph.D., PE, PMP, Senior Structural / Bridge Engineer & Project Manager at SDR Engineering Consultants, Inc. and Mahmoud Reda Manaa, Ph.D., Engineer II at SDR Engineering, Inc.

We will discuss “Best Practices When Considering Post-Tensioned Girder Bridges”

Continuous post-tensioned bridges are very efficient structures. By eliminating the need for deck joints, this requires less maintenance, which is a significant saving in the long-term. Precast prestressed concrete (PPC) girder bridges are made continuous by using cast-in-place closure joints combined with continuous draped post-tensioning tendons. The webinar will present the proper modeling of continuous post-tensioned girder bridges utilizing staged construction for the time dependency. And checking the load rating by using the resulting internal forces received from the detailed finite element analysis.

Save the date and register for the webinar! Check out this link to see the details https://hubs.ly/H0nND7v0

I-10 E Widening JCT. I-49 to St. Martin Parish Line

Eight (8) bridges along I-10 interstate from I-49 junction to St. Martin Parish line were evaluated as part of Stage 0 Study (feasibility analysis). The total bridges lengths varied from 138 ft. to 1365 ft. Superstructure comprises precast prestressed concrete (PPC) girders, steel I beams, and steel plate girders. The substructure comprises reinforced concrete (RC) hammerheads, RC column bents, and RC/PPC pile bents. The study included developing design alternatives for the widening and rehabilitation of the existing bridges.

SDR tasks included: compiling and reviewing of existing documents; in-depth inspection; structural evaluation and load rating of existing bridges; design of rehabilitation of existing bridges, and design of widening. SDR study concluded that selective intervention and widening are more feasible and more economic than replacement, while maintaining the structural performance and integrity.

Come and meet SDR presenters at 2020 LTC

Structural Evaluation of Low Truss Swing Bridges Through Load Testing & FEA

Structural evaluation through load testing coupled with advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a powerful tool to load rate posted bridges with the aim of removing current posting. Based on SDR vast experience in structural evaluation and load testing, bridges can carry much higher loads than those predicted by design codes. Load test captures actual behavior of the structure (load distribution) and account for strength enhancing factors not included in design

The Mermentau Bridge is located along Louisiana State Highway 82 and crosses the river at Grand Chenier in Cameron Parish – Lake Charles. The bridge was built in 1959. The bridge main span is a swing steel low truss (Pony Truss) with a span length of 204 ft. The posting was controlled by the upper chord truss members.

Test results indicated that the actual performance of the truss swing span the bridge is more favorable than what is estimated by design codes. Load rating of the truss swing span was revised considering test findings and FEA, and the rating results indicated that the posting load of the bridge can be safely increased.

Load Testing Evaluation and Load Rating of Movable Bridge

To watch Dr. Zhiyong’s seminar for “Load Testing Evaluation and Load Rating of Movable Bridge”, use the link below.

https://www.midasoft.com/bridge/load-testing-evaluation-and-load-rating-of-movable-bridge?utm_content=112283529&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-2905349

Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

SDR wish you and all your beloved ones a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Structural Evaluation of Concrete Slab/T-Beam Bridges

To watch Dr. Seliem seminar for “Structural Evaluation of Concrete Slab/T-Beam Bridges Through Load Testing & Refined Analysis”, use the link below.

https://lnkd.in/du7gd83

Load Testing & Evaluation of Two Swing Span Bridges

SDR was tasked to structurally evaluate two swing span bridges through load testing coupled with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with the aim of removing the current load posting. The tested controlling spans comprised steel plate girder sowing span and CIP concrete slab spans. Test results revealed that, the actual performance of the test bridges is more favorable than what is estimated by design codes. Load rating of the controlling spans was revised considering test findings and FEA results, which resulted in removing the posting weight.

Load Testing & Evaluation of Five Fixed and Movable Bridges

SDR was tasked to evaluate five bridges located along Louisiana State Highway 82 through load testing coupled with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with the aim of removing the current load posting. The tested controlling spans comprised low truss swing spans; plate girder swing spans; steel I-beam approach spans; CIP concrete slab approach spans; and precast concrete slab spans. Test results revealed that, the actual performance of the test bridges is more favorable than what is estimated by design codes. Load rating of the controlling spans was revised considering test findings and FEA results, which resulted in removing the posting weight.

PROCTOR ROAD OVER I-75 BRIDGE

Proctor Road over I-75 in Sarasota, Florida is two continuous spans with a total bridge length of 282 ft. Superstructure comprises five AASHTO Type-V beams. Each beam span consists of two precast prestressed concrete (PPC) segments of 69 ft. long, connected using 1.5 ft. wide cast-in-place (CIP) closure pours at midspan. The two spans are made continuous using a similar 1.5 ft. wide CIP closure pour. Continuous post-tension (PT) over the two spans is provided by three draped tendons that are raised up at the intermediate bent.

The bridge was impacted by over-height truck causing damage to the exterior beam of span 1 in the form of partial section loss and rupture of prestressing strands with no damage to the PT tendons. Refined analysis was carried out to determine the feasibility of repair, and repair procedure. Further, the refined analysis was used to load rate the bridge after repair. The utilized repair procedure allowed for I-75 to remain open with partial lane closure overnight.