PMSS Project Details

Project ID:	FHWA-PROJ-11-0107
Project Name:	Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) – Timber Bridge: A Sustainable Bridge Construction for Low-Volume Roads
Status:	Active
Contact:	Last Name: Jalinoos First Name: Frank Telephone: 202-493-3082 E-mail: frank.jalinoos@dot.gov
Organization:	Federal Highway Administration - Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
Office:	Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Team:	Hazard Mitigation Team
Roadmap/Focus area(s):	Infrastructure Research and Technology Strategic Plan and Roadmap
Project Description:	Members of the Hazard Mitigation and Bridge and Foundation Engineering teams at Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) will work together to demonstrate the feasibility of a single-span demonstration/test bridge combining the geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS), Integrated Bridge System (IBS), and timber superstructure design. The project will showcase the use of renewable materials of engineered soils and woods in bridge construction. The team will collaborate with the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to advance the construction of rapid and inexpensive single-span timber bridges.
Laboratories:	J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Laboratory Geotechnical Laboratory
Start Date:	April 2, 2012
End Date:	October 31, 2013
Funding Amount:	$300,000.00
FHWA Program Name:	IRT (Infrastructure Research and Technology)
Goals:	The objectives of this project are to: (1) Investigate the compatibility of geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) bridge design with a timber superstructure. 2) Field test, when possible, newer wood preservatives. 3) Monitor performance of the GRS-timber bridge system.
Project Type:	Onsite
Background Information:	Data not yet available
Test Methodology:	The team at Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center will collaborate with the Forest Products Laboratory for the performance monitoring of geosynthetic reinforced soil timber in laboratory and the field.
Other Information:	Data not yet available
Partners:	Data not yet available
More Information URL(s):
Fieldtest:	Field monitoring research in cooperation with the Forest Products Laboratory.
Expected Benefits:	The benefits of the GRS-Timber bridges include: Accelerated bridge construction (ABC)—higher speed of construction, typically 10 days start to finish. Jointless integral bridge construction, eliminating the “bump at the end of the bridge” and cracking due to thermal cycles and deterioration due to corrosion. Use of nonspecialized local work force. Use of simple machinery, mitigating the requirements for heavy construction equipment for concreting or steel erection. Ideal bridge construction technology for small span offsystem local bridges. Construction that is weather independent. Simplified bridge plans. Reduced construction and likely maintenance/life-cycle costs.
Deliverables:	Name: Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) – Timber Bridge. Product Type(s): Research report, Techbrief, Technical report Description: The product is monitoring research in cooperation with the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) that will include a research report. Audiences: Academics, Bridge design professionals, Bridge owners, City and county agencies, Hydraulic and geotechnical engineers, Local bridge owners, Researchers, State highway agencies Secondary Audiences:
Related URL(s):
Project Findings:	The project will demonstrate the feasibility of the engineered wood/soil/rock bridge technologies and showcase the use of sustainable building products. The proposed short-span (typically less than 80 ft (24 m)) geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) timber bridge will be ideal for rural road construction, which will deploy a local workforce.
FHWA Topics:	Roads and Bridges--Geotechnical Roads and Bridges--Construction and Project Management Roads and Bridges--Design Roads and Bridges--Structures
TRT Terms:	Bridge Construction Geosynthetics Wooden Bridges Research Bridges Infrastructure Soils
FHWA Disciplines:	Construction and Project Management Design Environment Geotechnical Structures
Subject Areas:	Bridges and other structures Construction Design Geotechnology Highways