PMSS Project Details

Project ID:	FHWA-PROJ-08-0004
Project Name:	Federal Highway Administration Long-Term Bridge Performance Program
Status:	Active
Contact:	Last Name: Zobel First Name: Robert Telephone: 202-493-3024 E-mail: robert.zobel@dot.gov
Organization:	Federal Highway Administration - Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
Office:	Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Team:	Infrastructure Management Team
Roadmap/Focus area(s):	Infrastructure Research and Technology Strategic Plan and Roadmap
Project Description:	In the United States, the stewardship and management of more than 590,000 bridges present many ongoing planning, operational, maintenance, and economic challenges for Federal, State, and local transportation agencies. To help overcome these challenges and foster the next generation of bridge and bridge management systems, in April 2008, the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Infrastructure Research and Development launched the Long-Term Bridge Performance Program, a major new strategic initiative designated as a flagship research program. The authorization of the Program was included in legislation for surface transportation programs enacted by the United States Congress in 2005: The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The Long-Term Bridge Performance Program is intended to be a 20-year undertaking with both short- and long-term goals. It includes detailed inspection, periodic evaluation and testing, monitoring, and forensic investigation of representative samples of bridges nationwide by taking advantage of proven sensor technology.
Laboratories:	Not Applicable
Start Date:	April 1, 2008
End Date:	April 1, 2013
Funding Amount:	$25,000,000.00
FHWA Program Name:	Long-Term Bridge Performance
Goals:	The objective of the Long-Term Bridge Performance Program is to compile a comprehensive database of quantitative information from a representative sample of bridges nationwide, looking at every element of a bridge. The data and information collected in this program will provide a more detailed and timely picture of bridge health; improve knowledge of bridge performance; and ultimately promote the safety, mobility, longevity, and reliability of the Nation's highway transportation assets.
Project Type:	Offsite
Background Information:	Data not yet available
Test Methodology:	analytical, experimental, and field investigation
Other Information:	The program will take advantage of the state-of-the-art sensor technologies to evaluate the characteristics of a bridge either periodically or continuously as needed.
Partners:	Data not yet available
More Information URL(s):
Fieldtest:	Data not yet available
Expected Benefits:	Improve knowledge of bridge performance.
Deliverables:	1. Name: Bridge Performance Primer. Product Type(s): Research report, Techbrief Description: This report provides a clear and complete perspective on the concept of bridge performance and presents the path to a better and deeper understanding of what bridge performance means and how to reliably measure it to improve the performance of the transportation system. Audiences: Researchers, State highway agencies, Federal Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center staff, Bridge design professionals, Implementers Secondary Audiences: 2. Name: Protocols For Condition Assessment of Bridge Elements. Product Type(s): Research report, Training materials, Techbrief Description: Various protocols are designed to accommodate visual inspection, a variety of sensors and associated instrumentation, and nondestructive (NDE) and destructive test methods. Audiences: Researchers, State highway agencies, Federal Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center staff Secondary Audiences: 3. Name: Decision Support Tools Product Type(s): Research report, Software, Techbrief Description: The Bridge Assessment Decision Tool (BDT) is a software tool that houses data- collection protocols. It makes a connection between the specific measurement and evaluation techniques, general types of techniques (visual inspection, nondestructive evaluation, monitoring, etc.), data types, types of deterioration, and bridge components. A Web-based application then allows users to run queries using these connections as search criteria. A query returns the protocol sheet for a given measurement technique, including a detailed description, equipment required, technique procedure, suggested frequency of use, and output data. The BDT will lead to data collection that is uniform and consistent in the duration of the Long-Term Bridge Performance program. Audiences: Researchers, Federal Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center staff, Hydraulic and geotechnical engineers, State highway agencies Secondary Audiences: 4. Name: Long-Term Bridge Performance Pilot Study Phase Product Type(s): Research report, Techbrief Description: The primary objective of the Long-Term Bridge Performance pilot study is to validate the methods and protocols developed for data collection under the developmental phase of the program. In addition, it provides critical knowledge on key factors for coordination with bridge owners, difficulties in accessing components of the bridge, maintaining safe and satisfactory traffic flow during onsite activities, realistic costs associated with all aspects of the field testing, issues related to durability and reliability of instrumentation and data transmission methods, and mobilizing data collection technology from one region to another. Audiences: Researchers, State highway agencies, Federal Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center staff Secondary Audiences: 5. Name: Long-Term Bridge Performance Bridge Sampling Methodology. Product Type(s): Research report, Techbrief Description: A methodology based on Correspondence Analysis is developed for selecting a representative sample of bridges that would be subjected to detailed inspection and periodic monitoring for the duration of the program. Audiences: Researchers, State highway agencies, Federal Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center staff Secondary Audiences: 6. Name: Long-Term Bridge Performance Long-Term Data Collection Methodology. Product Type(s): Research report, Techbrief Description: The sampling methodology developed in the developmental phase of the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program is utilized to select an appropriate sample of bridges from each subpopulation. The sampled bridges from each subpopulation will then undergo two different evaluations. A smaller sample will undergo detailed inspection and periodic monitoring by visual inspection as well as more advanced methods that utilize sensor, nondestructive evaluation, and simulation technology. To establish baseline characteristics of these bridges reliably, detailed finite element models will be constructed and calibrated through comparison with field data using comprehensive structural identification approaches. At the same time, a larger sample will only undergo detailed visual inspection by utilizing methodology established in the developmental phase. The smaller sample size from each population will be identified as “Reference Bridges” (RefBrgs) and will represent a key focal point of the LTBP program. The large sample size will be identified as "Cluster Bridges." Audiences: Researchers, State highway agencies, Federal Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center staff Secondary Audiences: 7. Name: Long-Term Bridge Performance Outreach Activities. Product Type(s): Research report Description: Summary and technical reports from outreach activities in support of the Long-Term Bridge Performance Program will be available. Audiences: Researchers, State highway agencies, Federal Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center staff, Bridge design professionals, Bridge owners Secondary Audiences:
Related URL(s):
Project Findings:	Data not yet available
FHWA Topics:	Roads and Bridges--Asset Management Roads and Bridges--Construction and Project Management Roads and Bridges--Design Roads and Bridges--Hydraulics Roads and Bridges--Geotechnical Roads and Bridges--National Highway System Roads and Bridges--Structures Research/Technologies--FHWA Research and Technology Research/Technologies--Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
TRT Terms:	Bridges Infrastructure Research Bridge Construction Ground Transportation Testing Detection and Identification Devices
FHWA Disciplines:	Design Structures Construction and Project Management
Subject Areas:	Bridges and other structures Data and Information Technology Maintenance and Preservation