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REPORT
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
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Publication Number:  FHWA-HRT-16-007    Date:  January 2016
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-16-007
Date: January 2016

 

Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) Program Protocols, Version 1

Logistics Protocols (LO)

PRE-PL-LO-001, Reference Bridge Testing

PRE-PL-LO-002, Cluster Bridge Testing

PRE-PL-LO-003, Traffic Control, Maintenance and Protection of Traffic (MPT), and Permits

PRE-PL-LO-004, Personal Health and Safety Plan

PRE-PL-LO-005, Personnel Qualifications

PRE-PL-LO-006, Power and Network Requirements

PRE-PL-LO-007, Communication and Coordination Plan

Long-Term Bridge Performance Program Logo

Reference Bridge Testing
LTBP Protocol #: PRE-PL-LO-001

1.

Data Collected

  
1.1 None. This protocol provides a list of all the standard tests to be conducted on bridges designated as reference bridges.  

2.

Onsite Equipment and Personnel Requirements

  
2.1 Equipment: None.  
2.2 Personnel: None.  

3.

Methodology

  
3.1 Conduct the following visual inspection tests and procedures on reference bridges, unless otherwise directed by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA):  
3.1.1 FLD-DC-VIS-001, Steel Superstructure Deterioration.  
3.1.2 FLD-DC-VIS-002, Steel Superstructure—Corrosion.  
3.1.3 FLD-DC-VIS-003, Steel Superstructure—Section Loss.  
3.1.4 FLD-DC-VIS-004, Steel Superstructure—Cracking, Deflection, Uplift, Distortion, Buckling, Rotation, and Impact Damage.  
3.1.5 FLD-DC-VIC-001, Concrete Deterioration.  
3.1.6 FLD-DC-VIC-002, Concrete Substructure Condition Assessment.  
3.1.7 FLD-DC-VIC-003, Concrete Deck—Spalls and Delamination.  
3.1.8 FLD-DC-VIC-004, Concrete Superstructure and Substructure—Spalls and Delamination.  
3.1.9 FLD-DC-VIC-005, Concrete—Cracking.  
3.1.10 FLD-DC-VIC-006, Concrete—Abrasion.  
3.1.11 FLD-DC-VIC-007, Concrete—Sulfate Attack.  
3.1.12 FLD-DC-VIB-001, Elastomeric Bearings.  
3.1.13 FLD-DC-VIB-002, Rocker Bearings.  
3.1.14 FLD-DC-VIJ-001, Drainage System on Bridge Decks and Approach Slabs.  
3.1.15 FLD-DC-VIJ-002, Expansion Joints.  
3.2 Conduct the following manual and/or automated, nondestructive evaluation (NDE) tests on reference bridges, unless otherwise directed by FHWA:  
3.2.1 FLD-DC-NDE-001, Electrical Resistivity Testing.  
3.2.2 FLD-DC-NDE-002, Ground Penetrating Radar Testing for Bridge Decks.  
3.2.3 FLD-DC-NDE-003, Half-Cell Potential Testing.  
3.2.4 FLD-DC-NDE-004, Impact Echo Testing.  
3.2.5 FLD-DC-NDE-007, Ultrasonic Surface Wave Testing—Concrete.  
3.3 FLD-DC-MS-001, Wet Coring of Concrete Decks. Obtain concrete cores from one span of the bridge deck in the following numbers and locations, unless otherwise directed by FHWA:  
3.3.1 The results of the visual inspection of the deck and NDE testing (if available) should be considered in the location of cores. Cores should be taken from sound concrete that is determined to be free of cracks, delaminations, and spalls.  
3.3.2 Obtain one 4-inch diameter core in each lane and in each shoulder on the untreated bridge decks of reference bridges.  
3.3.3 Obtain one 2.5-inch core in each lane and in each shoulder on the untreated bridge decks of reference bridges.  
3.3.4 Transverse location of cores should be:  
3.3.4.1 Shoulders – between 2 and 4 ft from the face of the curb or parapet or from the edge of the deck if there is no curb or parapet.  
3.3.4.2 Travel lanes – between the wheel paths.
3.3.5 The location of cores should be spaced longitudinally in order to cover different sections of the span selected for coring.  
3.4 Conduct the following material and physical sampling procedures and tests on the cores obtained under section 3.3:  
3.4.1 FLD-DC-MS-002, Compressive Strength and Static and Dynamic Elastic Moduli of Concrete Cores.  
3.4.2 FLD-DC-MS-003, Resistance of Concrete to Chloride Ion Penetration (Permeability).  
3.4.3 FLD-DC-MS-004, Sampling and Testing for Chloride Profiles.  
3.5 Reference bridges will typically be instrumented for live load testing and long-term monitoring. Protocols governing these types of testing will be developed.  
3.6 Conduct other/optional tests, where applicable and as specified by the owner agency and/or FHWA.  

4.

Data Collection Table

  
4.1 None.  

5.

Criteria for Data Validation

  
5.1 None.  

6.

Commentary/Background

  
6.1 This protocol provides guidance for developing a plan for evaluating and testing reference bridges.  
6.2 A “reference bridge” is the bridge within each cluster that is representative of the cluster as a whole. It will undergo periodic evaluation and testing using a detailed visual inspection protocol supplemented with material testing and advanced evaluation methods utilizing NDE tools. Collecting additional concrete cores after the initial round of material testing should be governed by the following:  
6.2.1 Unless otherwise directed by FHWA, no cores will be taken for the purposes of testing strength, modulus of elasticity, or permeability. These properties of mature concrete are not expected to vary significantly with age.  
6.2.2 Unless otherwise directed by FHWA, obtaining cores and sampling for chloride profile testing is to be repeated every 5 years.  
6.3 Additional tests may be added for a particular reference bridge. Given that each bridge is different, a specific test plan may be developed for a specific reference bridge.  

7.

References

  
7.1 LTBP Protocols:  
7.1.1 FLD-DC-VIS-001, Steel Superstructure Deterioration.  
7.1.2 FLD-DC-VIS-002, Steel Superstructure—Corrosion.  
7.1.3 FLD-DC-VIS-003, Steel Superstructure—Section Loss.  
7.1.4 FLD-DC-VIS-004, Steel Superstructure—Cracking, Deflection, Uplift, Distortion, Buckling, Rotation, and Impact Damage.  
7.1.5 FLD-DC-VIC-001, Concrete Deterioration.  
7.1.6 FLD-DC-VIC-002, Concrete Substructure Condition Assessment.  
7.1.7 FLD-DC-VIC-003, Concrete Deck—Spalls and Delamination.  
7.1.8 FLD-DC-VIC-004, Concrete Superstructure and Substructure—Spalls and Delamination.  
7.1.9 FLD-DC-VIC-005, Concrete—Cracking.  
7.1.10 FLD-DC-VIC-006, Concrete—Abrasion.  
7.1.11 FLD-DC-VIC-007, Concrete—Sulfate Attack.  
7.1.12 FLD-DC-VIB-001, Elastomeric Bearings.  
7.1.13 FLD-DC-VIB-002, Rocker Bearings.  
7.1.14 FLD-DC-VIJ-001, Drainage System on Bridge Decks and Approach Slabs.  
7.1.15 FLD-DC-VIJ-002, Expansion Joints.  
7.1.16 FLD-DC-NDE-001, Electrical Resistivity Testing.  
7.1.17 FLD-DC-NDE-002, Ground Penetrating Radar Testing for Bridge Decks.  
7.1.18 FLD-DC-NDE-003, Half-Cell Potential Testing.  
7.1.19 FLD-DC-NDE-004, Impact Echo Testing.  
7.1.20 FLD-DC-NDE-007, Ultrasonic Surface Wave Testing—Concrete.  
7.1.21 FLD-DC-MS-001, Wet Coring of Concrete Decks.  
7.1.22 FLD-DC-MS-002, Compressive Strength and Static and Dynamic Elastic Moduli of Concrete Cores.  
7.1.23 FLD-DC-MS-003, Resistance of Concrete to Chloride Ion Penetration (Permeability).  
7.1.24 FLD-DC-MS-004, Sampling and Testing for Chloride Profiles.  
7.2 External: None.  

 

 

 

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