Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) Methods for Pile-Footing-Column Systems using Lightweight Precast Members

Project Details
STATUS

In-Progress

PROJECT NUMBER

21-785, TR-801

START DATE

11/15/21

END DATE

11/30/23

FOCUS AREAS

Infrastructure

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, BEC, CTRE
SPONSORS

Iowa Department of Transportation
Iowa Highway Research Board

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Sri Sritharan

Faculty Affiliate, BEC

Co-Principal Investigator
Jeramy Ashlock

Faculty Affiliate, InTrans

About the research

Building on previous research, the proposed project will advance the accelerated bridge construction method for bridge substructures using steel piles and precast pile caps and columns. The weight of the precast members will be reduced using hollow sections, which in turn will improve both construction tolerances and constructability. The hollow sections will be filled with in-situ concrete. The piles will be designed with temporary collars, which will eliminate the need to wait for the concrete to cure before continuing with the superstructure construction.

The research will include a large-scale test unit that will incorporate both vertical and battered steel piles. The testing of the system will incorporate service level and extreme loads and ensure dependable performance of the new system and its components. As part of the testing program, the performance of the column and pile foundations will be examined systematically. Analytical models will be developed to realize the observed performance of the test unit and the components. Using previously discovered analytical and experimental observations and findings, appropriate design recommendations will be developed for improving bridge construction.

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