Current ICT Project
Investigators:
  Scott M. Olson (Primary), James H. Long
Project Title:
  Instrumentation & Monitoring of Extreme Integral Abutment Bridges in Illinois
Start Date: 8/16/2008
End Date: 8/15/2011
Summary of Project:
  The Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) recently funded project R27-25 Modification of IDOT Integral Abutment Limitations and Design in an effort to improve the economy and applicability of integral abutment bridges (IABs) in Illinois by evaluating the practices for (and performance of) IABs in other states, and by performing numerical analyses of IABs under different design conditions. The key aspect of this proposed project is to develop plans to instrument and monitor one or more IABs to: (1) verify current design assumptions; (2) validate the numerical analyses from R27-25; (3) measure actual soil/foundation/abutment performance; and (4) monitor the long-term behavior of these systems. As intended in, and as unanimously agreed by the TRP for Project R27-25, implementing the instrumentation plans proposed by Project R27-25 and actually measuring the performance of IABs in Illinois is vital to expanding the use of IABs by IDOT designers.
Objective of Project:
  The primary objectives of this project are to: (1) evaluate and select candidate integral abutment bridges in at least one IDOT district that are "extreme" (i.e., exceed current usage limitations for IABs) in terms of span length or bridge skew; (2) modify construction documents and schedules to implement instrumentation plans developed in Project R27-25; (3) procure and install the required instruments and data acquisition systems at the selected bridges; and (4) monitor and interpret the instrument measurements. We will also develop a structure to facilitate long-term (on the order of 10 or more years) monitoring of the selected bridges.
Expected Outcome:
  Anticipated end users are IDOT Headquarters Bridge Division, Districts, Local Agencies, and consultants to IDOT, as well as potentially improving design and construction in other states. The result should include revising the Bridge Manual to expand the use of integral abutment bridges, improve design methods and construction procedures, and verify performance of these structures.
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Last Updated: 11/18/2009