U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Focus
| Accelerating Infrastructure Innovations |
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-08-010
Date: January/February 2008
The design, fabrication, inspection, and maintenance of orthotropic steel deck bridges will be the focus of the 2008 International Orthotropic Bridge Conference, to be held from August 25-29, 2008, in Sacramento, California. As a follow-up to the first International Orthotropic Bridge Conference in 2004, which attracted attendees from 11 countries, the event is hosted by the Sacramento chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Sessions will feature such topics as launching orthotropic bridges, conducting welding inspections of orthotropic bridges, and using Load and Resistance Factor Design. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will also introduce its new FHWA Orthotropic Bridge Manual in a full-day session on August 28 that is free to all attendees. Participants' comments on each chapter of the forthcoming manual will be solicited during the session.
| By integrating the bridge deck and structural system, orthotropic bridges are both lighter weight and long lasting. |
First used in Germany in the 1950s, orthotropic bridges are ones in which all superstructure components are made of steel. Component members are combined into one welded, all-steel structure that acts as a single integrated unit. By integrating the bridge deck and structural system, orthotropic bridges are both lighter weight and long lasting. Popular in Europe and Asia, orthotropic bridge construction has been limited in the United States to date, but interest has been increasing since the first Othotropic Bridge Conference was held in 2004. The 2008 conference's goal is to bring bridge owners, designers, fabricators, material suppliers, and contractors together with researchers, professors, and students to share experiences, innovations, and best practices. All aspects of orthotropic bridge design will be covered, ranging from wearing surfaces to fatigue to design specifications.
For more information on the conference or to register, visit www.orthotropic-bridge.org. Participants who would like to submit a paper to the conference should send a one-page abstract to asce@asce-sacto.org by February 29, 2008. For more information on the forthcoming FHWA Orthotropic Bridge Manual, contact Vasant Mistry at FHWA, 202-366-4599 (email: vasant.mistry@fhwa.dot.gov).
