I-10 OVER CALCASIEU RIVER BRIDGE (LAKE CHARLES BRIDGE)

I-10 OVER CALCASIEU RIVER BRIDGE (LAKE CHARLES BRIDGE)

The I-10 bridge over Calcasieu River is a steel truss cantilever bridge, opened in 1952 in Lake Charles, LA. The bridge includes a steel main truss, four steel deck trusses, and ninety approach spans. The approach spans are comprised of steel girder spans and fracture critical spans (two-girder system with floor beams and stringers). The total bridge covers an approximate length of 6,617 ft. and a width of 62.67 ft.

The major scope of work included inspecting the entire bridge, determining the affect of section losses and deficiencies on load rating, building the 3-D finite element model for the truss spans using LUSAS, rating the truss members and gusset plates, load rating the approach spans using Virtis, load rating the substructure using RC-Pier, spreadsheets, and writing the final evaluation report with repair recommendations.

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ASSAWOMAN BAY BRIDGE

Assawoman Bay Bridge

The Assawoman Bay Bridge, Maryland, consists of 139 spans. Longitudinal, transverse and shear cracks were observed during past routine inspections of the prestressed concrete box beams and AASHTO girders. The first phase of the project consisted of conducting an extensive investigation to determine the cause of these cracks and their affect on the performance and durability of the bridge. The investigation consisted of performing a hands-on inspection of the bridge elements, invasive testing of selected locations, collection of core samples, and performing chloride ion content analysis along the bridge.

The results from chloride ion penetration analysis and testing indicated severe corrosion and deterioration in the main span and five box section spans. The AASHTO girder drop span was deteriorated to the extent that complete replacement of the span was necessary. Analysis of the existing damage showed significant deterioration, due to corrosion of both the box beams and the AASHTO girders, that required immediate structural repairs. The results of the investigation were presented in a report recommending replacement of the drop span and preventative maintenance such as sealing and painting concrete surfaces, epoxy injection of cracks and structural strengthening of selected AASHTO girders and box beams using carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP). The construction work for the entire project was completed successfully within six months at a construction cost of approximately $1,800,000, considerably less than the $12M estimate prepared by another consultant.

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LA-66 BIG BAYOU SARA BRIDGE

Big Bayou Sara Bridge is a historic bridge (built in 1949), carrying LA-66 over Big Bayou Sara in the West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. The bridge main spans are comprised of five 100 ft. steel pony trusses, while the approach spans are comprised of five 40 ft. steel I-beam spans with a total bridge length of 700 ft.
Services provided by SDR included in-depth inspection of the superstructure and substructure of the bridge; development of 3-D Finite Element models to determine internal forces; evaluation of the existing structure to determine deficient elements; design of a rehabilitation system for the superstructure and substructure; development of preliminary and final plans for construction; design of a two-lane detour temporary steel bridge to be constructed on the north side of the existing bridge to maintain traffic during rehabilitation work on the existing bridge; development of cost estimation and schedule; and construction support.

MONITORING & TESTING OF US-80 BAYOU LAFOURCHE BRIDGE

Bayou Lafourche Bridge is located on US-80 over Bayou Lafourche Diversion Canal. The bridge comprises seven equal spans, each 80 ft. in length, with a total bridge length of 560 ft. The two end spans on each side and the three intermediate spans are continuous. The bridge cross-section consists of six precast prestressed concrete (PPC) girders supporting full-depth precast concrete deck panels. The precast deck panels are post-tensioned along the span during construction to close the gaps between the panels and to achieve composite action between the deck and girders after pouring the shear pockets. This accelerated bridge construction (ABC) technique was implemented for the first time in Louisiana; therefore, a monitoring and instrumentation program was carried out to study the behavior of the bridge at different stages of construction as well as during service life. After completion and before opening to traffic, nine load tests were conducted using calibrated trucks. The load tests are a benchmark for future monitoring to evaluate the long-term performance of the bridge.
Instrumentation used included vibrating wire strain gages attached to the rebar of the deck and girders; vibrating wire strand meters clamped to prestressing strands of the girders; weldable strain gages attached to connection plates; load cells; and hydraulic jacks.
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US-90 MACARTHUR DRIVE INTERCHANGE PHASE I

Phase I of MacArthur Drive Interchange is to provide ramp connections between the westbound direction of US 90 Business (Westbank Expressway) and the westbound frontage road near Peters Road and Harvey Tunnel. The Westbank Expressway was constructed as a four lane, divided, limited access highway in the late 1950’s along with the original Greater New Orleans Mississippi River Bridge and the Harvey Tunnel.

SDR’s first task was to carry out a bridge load test coupled with detailed 3-D finite element (FE) modeling of the existing bridge including the inverted-T piers. The results from the complex non-linear FE modeling and the load testing were used to determine the bridge sufficiency. The bridge was found to be sound and a recommendation to proceed with the bridge widening project was made to LADOTD. SDR was also tasked with the design and final plans production of all complex superstructure elements consisting of precast prestressed U-girders and LG-girders, inverted-T cap beams, and all complex columns with unbalanced loads. In addition, due to the structural complexity of the existing inverted-T piers, special analysis was required to evaluate and determine the cut lines for accommodating the widening which, was also performed by SDR.


SDR staff knowledge and experience was essential in proposing new design that is simple and cost effective while maintaining all aesthetic aspects of the existing bridge.

US-11 LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN BRIDGE

The US 11 Lake Pontchartrain Bridge is an historic bridge (built in 1928) carrying US 11 over Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. The bridge consists of 700 reinforced concrete spans and two steel movable spans, for a total length of 24,922 ft. Inspection of the bridge revealed wide cracks, and section loss on the bridge from deck to bent columns. SDR performed hands-on inspection, damage assessment, and designed rehabilitation of all structural components of the concrete superstructure and substructure. Major tasks included hands-on inspection of the fixed concrete bridge spans and substructure in order to determine the level and type of the structural deficiencies designated in the structural inventory reports; perform chloride ion penetration analysis to determine the diffusion coefficient and expected service life of the bridge; load rating the bridge, using traditional analysis, as well as refined analysis through linear and non-linear 3-D finite element models; conduct diagnostic load tests using strain gauges and loaded trucks; compile an evaluation report with repair recommendations; design bridge rehabilitation including detailed plans, special provisions, and construction cost estimation; and providing construction support.

DR. HATEM SELIEM PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PORT AUTHORITIES

Increasing the live load-carrying capacity of structures is crucial for extending the life span of infrastructure, due to commonly available heavier moving live loads as compared to the originally designed live load. Utilizing a combination of advanced modeling techniques, instrumentation, monitoring, and testing provides an accurate assessment of the structural load capacity. This capacity can be further enhanced through strengthening with Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) to achieve the desired increase in load capacity and meet operational load demand. Along with enhancement of load capacity, FRPs provide the desired durability to extend the structure’s life span.
Dr. Seliem’s presentation at the American Association of Port Authorities, Engineering Facilities Seminar offers an overview of the strengthening technique along with examples of field applications where FRP’s have been successfully used for repair and strengthening of infrastructures.

DR. ZHIYONG “JOHN” LIANG PRESENTED ABOUT BRIDGE PRESERVATION AT SEBPP

Dr. Zhiyong (John) Liang, Vice President of SDR Engineering Consultants, Inc. during his presentation at the 2019 Southeast Bridge Preservation Partnership (SEBPP) held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 16 to 18, 2019.
Dr. Liang presented SDR’s work on the use of Cathodic Protection as part of the rehabilitation of US-11 Lake Pontchartrain Bridge.

US-80 TEXAS STREET BRIDGE OVER RED RIVER

US-80 at the Texas Street Bridge, built in 1934, is an historic bridge which carries US-80 over the Red River. The bridge is used primarily for local traffic traveling between the cities of Shreveport and Bossier City in Louisiana. The bridge consists of 45 spans with a total length of 2,895 ft. The approach spans consist of reinforced concrete T-beam girders and steel deck trusses. The main span is composed of three steel truss spans.
SDR’s scope of work included in-depth inspection of all structural elements; LRFR load rating analysis; identification of structurally-deficient elements; and design of structural strengthening. To analyze the bridge, a three-dimensional Finite Element analysis was deployed to determine the internal forces in all structure members. SDR is also tasked with providing construction support

SDR’s scope of work included: in-depth inspection of all structural elements; LRFR load rating analysis; identification of structurally-deficient elements, and design of structural strengthening. To analyze the bridge, a three-dimensional Finite Element analysis was deployed to determine the internal forces in all structure members. Furthermore, SDR is tasked to provide construction support.