Abstract
This research developed and demonstrated a new approach to the accelerated fabrication of resilient steel bridges—built-up press-brake formed tub girders (PBTGs). Built-up PBTGs are comprised of webs that are cold bent via a press brake and bolted to separate, flat bottom and top flanges. This investigation included (1) designing and building two demonstration bridges, (2) measuring the behavior of the demonstration bridges as experimental evidence demonstrating behavior, and (3) developing a kit-of-parts system to facilitate future adoption of this system. Research culminated in two completed vehicular bridges that are in use, validated numerical modeling approaches for design, a kit-of-parts system, and a summary of the lessons learned.
Keywords
steel bridges, girder bridges, tub girder bridges, accelerated fabrication, demonstration projects, finite element method, static loads, live loads, monitoring
Report Number
FHWA/IN/JTRP-2024/36
SPR Number
4431
Sponsoring Organization
Indiana Department of Transportation
Performing Organization
Joint Transportation Research Program
Publisher Place
West Lafayette, Indiana
Date of Version
2024
Recommended Citation
Thrall, A. P., Mutoka, S. C., & Tumbeva, M. D. (2024). A new approach to accelerated fabrication of steel bridges: Design, optimization, and demonstration (Joint Transportation Research Program Publication No. FHWA/IN/JTRP-2024/36). West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University. https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284317814
Technical Summary