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Maintenance of Bridge Foundations: Transportation Asset Management

Silas Nichols Principal Bridge Engineer-Geotechnical U.S. Federal Highway Administration Office of Infrastructure Washington, DC

Some Context on National Highway System


Aging Infrastructure Growing Congestion Funding Shortfall Focus on System Performance Asset Management is Imperative

Transportation Asset Management


Transportation Asset Management is a strategic and systematic process of operating, maintaining, upgrading and expanding physical assets effectively throughout their lifecycle. It focuses on business and engineering practices for resource allocation and utilization, with the objective of better decision making based upon quality information and well defined objectives.
AASHTO Subcommittee on Asset Management

How Does Transportation Asset Management Work?


Improved decision-making supported by policies, performance-based goals, performance measures, and appropriate service levels Decisions are based on accurate data, and sound engineering and economic analysis Long-term view of assets More robust management and monitoring systems

Challenges in Measuring Bridge Performance


Dependent on multiple and often interrelated factors, Original design parameters and specifications Initial quality of materials and of the as-built construction Varying environmental conditions Type, timing and effectiveness of preventive maintenance, minor and major rehabilitation actions replacement actions

Uncertainty in Data
Condition
Action A1 at time t1 Action A2 at time t1 Action A2 at time t2 Uncertain Costs associated with applied actions

Uncertain Action Effectiveness 1. different actions at a given application time (t1) 2. same action at different application time (t1 vs. t2) Uncertain Time of Applying/Delaying Actions t1

Uncertain Deterioration Rates associated with different actions

t2

Time Bridge Condition vs. Age

Geotechnical Assets and Liabilities


Geotechnical Features are often overlooked when considering assets and liabilities with regard to management, maintenance and data collection protocols
Soil and Rock Fills and Cuts Soil and Rock Instabilities and Hazards Shallow and Deep Foundations Earth Retaining Structures Ground Improvement Installation Geotechnical Databases/Material Information

Why and when should Transportation owners be interested in evaluating Geotechnical Features?
During installation as part of quality control and assurance As part of periodic evaluations and inspections When some distress is visually observed When rehabilitation or reconstruction, load rating, and widening is being considered After the feature has experienced an extreme event

Differential Settlement

Bridge Abutment Movements


Bridge Span Abutment Fill

Soft Layer

Foundation Layer

BACKGROUND: Little if any thought has traditionally given to the short and long-term condition of Geofeatures. This situation is largely based on ignorance, a false sense of security that Transportation Assets are grossly over designed, will last FOREVER and a frustration regarding the means and methods of such evaluation (reliable, accurate, rapid and cost effective).

Historical Perspective
Small design loads, very conservative designs Geotechnical Designers had little knowledge of loads and performance requirements. Primitive specifications and construction control methods No real consideration of long-term behavior No discussion of design life and life cycle cost modeling

Historical Perspective
Lack of practical, reliable and cost effective tools to evaluate existing geofeatures Minimal consideration of deterioration models Relatively small effort devoted to determining long term behavior Perhaps most complex and difficult component to evaluate Rehabilitation and reconstruction a huge expense for transportation owners

Load magnitude and general demand per element is greatly increasing Many more choices Nominal dimensions are greatly increasing (length and crosssection). Smaller number of elements per support Demand on geotechnical and structural materials increasing (in general, lower safety factors) Better appreciation and concern of geofeatures by the structural community Designs become more deformation based sensitive and complex Much better Site Investigation and Construction Monitoring tools

CURRENT PRACTICE AND FUTURE TRENDS

EVALUATING STRUCTURAL FOUNDATIONS: What aspects of the foundation are needed for an analysis?
Foundation Types: shallow and deep (driven, drilled shafts, micropiles, auger cast) Foundation Dimensions (length, geometry) Foundation material Integrity (short/long) Load Carrying Capability Load Displacement Behavior (vertical and lateral) Knowledge of loads and desired performance

TESTING CHALLENGES

Resources and Gaps


FHWA OPPORTUNITIES National Bridge Inventory Long Term Bridge Performance Program Geotechnical Asset Management Initiatives Unknown Foundations Program RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT Ever shrinking number of sources and level of resources. Ever increasing number of dedicated projects and programs. Increasing need for interdisciplinary teams and solutions to problems. Need to better combine basic and applied research tools and accelerate mainstream implementation approaches

Thank You!

Silas Nichols, P.E. Principal Bridge Engineer Geotechnical FHWA Office of Bridge Technology 1-202-366-1554 Silas.Nichols@dot.gov

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