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Research Will Aid in Assessing Safety and Performance of Local BridgesPosted: Mar 4, 2021
Using field and laboratory tests of deteriorating DT girder bridges, researchers at South Dakota State University developed correlations between damage to double-tee (DT) bridge girders observed during inspections and the field performance of those girders. The findings from visual inspection, field testing, and structural analysis can be used by bridge engineers to assess the safety and serviceability of bridges. The team developed a partnership with bridge engineers at the South Dakota Department of Transportation to conduct visual inspections and field testing of the DT bridges. It is anticipated that county transportation agencies will use the findings to assess the safety and serviceability of bridges. Junwon Seo, Ph.D. Field and Analytical Study for Deteriorating Precast Double-Tee Girder Bridges |
Because of their relatively low cost and ease of construction, bridges using double-tee (DT) girders are widely used on local road networks across the United States. It has been found that rapid deterioration of longitudinal joints between DT girders, which can significantly degrade the structural performance of these bridges, frequently occurs.