MODULAR STEEL BRIDGE CONCEPTS

PRESENTERS: BRIAN RAFF NATIONAL STEEL BRIDGE ALLIANCE CONTACT: 312.670.5415 | RAFF@STEELBRIDGES.ORG DAN SNYDER AMERICAN IRON AND STEEL INSTITUTE CONTACT: 301-367-6179 | DSNYDER@STEEL.ORG

Learning Objectives
Advantages of PBES Family of ABC used in the US Steel Bridge Substructures
Driven steel piles Tubular steel bridge piers Steel bent caps

Steel Bridge Super Structures

Precast deck on steel framing Pre-decked girders Inverset Folded Plate Bridge System Orthotropic Deck

Total Steel Superstructures

Advantages of PBES
Fast(er) Minimizes traffic impacts Improve construction work safety zones Construction less disruptive on Environment Improves constructability (Quality) Increased quality leads to lower life cycle costs

Family of ABC used in the US

Prefabricated Elements Prefabricated Systems

Total Bridge Systems

Deck Panels

Post-Tension Girders / Columns / Bents

Precast footings / caps

Skidding Pivoting Launching Heavy Lift Cranes

SPMT

Segmental Bridges

Strand Jacks

Steel Bridge Substructures

Driven Steel Piles
Can consist of H, box, and tubular sections High load-carrying capacity Extremely durable and resistant to lateral forces

Steel Bridge Substructures

Tubular Steel Bridge Piers
Successfully used under severe loading conditions: Deep water, hurricane, seismic, and ice loading Less steel tonnage compared to concrete reinforced piers Combined with precast elements, tubular steel bridge piers can save motorists almost 90% of the typical user delay costs

Steel Bridge Substructures

Prefabricated Steel Bent Caps Reduce the amount of worker exposure time Reduce construction time No waiting for CIP curing and formwork installation and removal

Steel Bridge Super Structures

Precast Decks on Steel Framing

Steel Bridge Super Structures

Precast Concrete Panel Systems

Steel Bridge Superstructures

Precast Decks on Steel Framing

Pre-decked Systems
Decked girders
Traditional girder Sub-deck or partial deck top flange Analogous to a bulb tee

Pre-decked Systems
I-95 over the James River (Virginia)
11 I-95 bridges replaced between I-64 E+W replaced with Precomposite Units (PCUs) 102 supserstructure spans replaced with no lane closures during peak traffic

Pre-decked Systems
MassDOT I-93 FAST 14 Project
14 bridges replaced in 12 weekends in Medford, MA Minimized project impact on travelers Reduced construction time

Pre-decked Systems
MassDOT I-93 FAST 14 Update

Pre-decked Systems
MassDOT I-93 FAST 14 Project

Steel Bridge Superstructures

Inverset
Steel beams and a concrete slab that act as a composite unit Enhanced resistance to cracking Pre-fabrication allows for minimal lane closure time even in the coldest winter months Any width spanning 20 to over 100 and can be skewed or contain vertical curves.

Steel Bridge Superstructures

Folded Plate Bridge System
Deck is placed with conventional equipment prior to site delivery Stable configuration which eliminates all cross frames Top flange can be used as a work platform reducing construction hazards Open bottom making inspection extremely easy

Pre-decked Systems
Decked girders with steel deck
Traditional girder, orthotropic deck Analogous to a bulb tee Lighter than tee with concrete flange Improved durability

Steel Bridge Superstructures

What is an orthotropic deck bridge?
Deck plate with stiffening ribs to provide load distribution in 2 directions All steel superstructure Potential to provide very long service life

Steel Bridge Superstructures

Orthotropic Deck Girder Bridge Overview
Improve safety performance of structures and long term safety improvement Reduce congestion during construction Accelerating construction Improving quality

Steel Bridge Superstructures

Orthotropic Deck Girders
Deck serves as top flange of girder Bolted splices in FBs and long. field weld for deck Wearing surface can be shop applied Nothing new hereits all been done before!

Steel Bridge Superstructures

Orthotropic Deck Girder Advantages:
Rapid construction and durable Very easy and safe erection
No LTB Good working platform

Shallow superstructure Wide girder spacing possible

No redecking to consider

Off the shelf design based on span

Steel Bridge Superstructures

Potential advantages of orthotropic construction:
light weight prefabricated/modular redundancy integration with bridge framing few deck joints durability rapid construction life-cycle economy
Approach span to self-anchored suspension unit of the Oakland Bay Bridge

Steel Bridge Superstructures

Steel box beam with Orthotropic Deck

Steel Bridge Superstructures

1000s of successful applications worldwide Successful U.S. projects
San Mateo Hayward (1967) Fremont (1973) Golden Gate (1985) Carquinez (2005) New Tacoma Narrows (2007)

Carquinez Bridge b/w Crockett & Vallejo, CA

Steel Bridge Superstructures

Orthotropic Deck Bridge Conclusion
Orthotropic deck bridges have the potential to become the preferred solution for more U.S. bridges, where rapid construction or life cycle economy is required Volume will promote standardization, improving quality while reducing cost Designers must work towards providing more freedom for fabricator to develop acceptable welding techniques

Total Steel Superstructures

Decks cast and bridges assembled off site Transported and lifted into place Improved constructability, reduced construction and equipment time.

I-80 State Street to 1300 East Bridge Farm

Total Steel Superstructures

Total Steel Superstructures

Providence River Bridge Arch Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vROwFWDNe1c

Total Steel Superstructures

Acrow Panel Bridges

Arroyo Malo Bridge - 2006

Future of Prefabrication in US
ABC is gaining momentum More bridges being built every year Prefabricated composite decks continue to be the most common form of prefabrication There is a need for research for pier connections in High Seismic Zones Utah Department of Transportation Goal
Make accelerated bridge construction with prefabrication standard practice by 2010

Learning Outcome
You should now have a good understanding of: Advantages of PBES Family of ABC used in the US Steel Bridge Substructures
Driven steel piles Tubular steel bridge piers Steel bent caps

Steel Bridge Super Structures

Precast deck on steel framing Pre-decked girders Inverset Folded Plate Bridge System Orthotropic Deck

Total Steel Superstructures

Thank you

Questions?
Presenters: Brian Raff National Steel Bridge Alliance Contact: 312.670.5415 | raff@steelbridges.org Dan Snyder American Iron and Steel institute Contact: 301-367-6179 | dsnyder@steel.org