Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-11-009
Date: December 2010

FHWA Training Examines Inspection Techniques for Steel Bridges

Newly updated and available for scheduling through the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI) is Fracture Critical Inspection Techniques for Steel Bridges (Course No. FHWA-NHI-130078). The course examines current practices and also addresses new and emerging technologies available to bridge inspectors.

Aimed at both public- and private-sector bridge inspectors, supervisors, and project engineers, the 3.5-day course offers participants insight into identifying a bridge's fracture critical members (FCMs), problematic details, and areas susceptible to fatigue and fracture. Participants will also learn about recording and evaluating defects, nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods, and retrofit details.

The first 2 days of the course explore inspection issues, including FCMs, failure mechanics, planning, and reporting of fracture critical inspections. The third day offers hands-on demonstrations of NDE techniques such as dye penetrant, magnetic particle, Eddy current, and ultrasonic testing. On the final day, participants focus on inspection procedures and reporting for common FCMs. These include floor beams, pin and hanger assemblies, arch ties, and eyebars.

"This training will help inspectors evaluate bridges more thoroughly and will provide them with additional knowledge in how structures work and what can take place when they don't work," said Bill Drosehn, district bridge inspection engineer for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Upon completion of the course, participants will have examined a range of bridge inspection issues for various members, including I-girders, floor beams, trusses, box girders, pin and hanger assemblies, arch ties, eyebars, cross girders and pier caps, and other problematic details. Participants also have the opportunity to plan an FCM inspection, develop bridge inspection procedures, and identify needed follow-up actions as part of a case study. Course instructors can tailor the training to a State's specific needs and requirements.

Fracture Critical Inspection Techniques for Steel Bridges is available for scheduling through the NHI Web site (visit www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov and select "Host a Course"). The course fee is $680 per participant, with a minimum class size of 20 and a maximum of 30. Course participants should have a thorough understanding of bridge inspection procedures and must have completed Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges (Course No. FHWA-NHI-130055), or possess equivalent field experience.

For more information on the course content, contact Thomas Drda at FHWA, 919-747-7011 (email: thomas.drda@fhwa.dot.gov).

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