Development of Guide Specifications for Bridges Vulnerable to Coastal Storms and Handbook of Retrofit Options for Bridges Vulnerable to Coastal Storms

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General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(130)
Former Study Number:
Lead Organization: Federal Highway Administration
Contract Start Date: Sep 01, 2006
Solicitation Number: 1072
Partners: AL, FHWA, FL, GADOT, LA, MS, NC, NY, SC, TX, VA
Contractor(s): Modjeski and Masters, Inc.
Status: Closed
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number: DTFH61-06-T-70006
Last Updated: Jun 21, 2010
Contract End Date: Sep 30, 2009
Financial Summary
Contract Amount: $700,000.00
Suggested Contribution:
Total Commitments Received: $590,000.00
100% SP&R Approval: Approved
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Firas Ibrahim
firas.ibrahim@dot.gov
Phone: 202-366-4598
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name
Alabama Department of Transportation 2006 $30,000.00 Michelle Owens Jeff Brown
Federal Highway Administration 2006 $200,000.00 Sheila Duwadi Jean Landolt
Florida Department of Transportation 2006 $50,000.00 William Nickas Patti Brannon
Georgia Department of Transportation 2007 $30,000.00 Paul Liles Paul Liles
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development 2007 $30,000.00 Harold Paul Harold Paul
Mississippi Department of Transportation 2006 $30,000.00 Mitch Carr James Watkins
New York State Department of Transportation 2006 $50,000.00 Wayne Gannett Gary Frederick
North Carolina Department of Transportation 2006 $25,000.00 Greg Perfetti Mrinmay Biswas
North Carolina Department of Transportation 2007 $25,000.00 Greg Perfetti Mrinmay Biswas
South Carolina Department of Transportation 2006 $20,000.00 Barry Bowers Mike Sanders
South Carolina Department of Transportation 2007 $20,000.00 Barry Bowers Mike Sanders
Texas Department of Transportation 2006 $50,000.00 Michelle Romage Frank Bailey
Virginia Department of Transportation 2007 $30,000.00 Charles Pettie Bill Kelsh

Study Description

Recent hurricanes have demonstrated the vulnerability of bridges to wave forces, storm surges, and storm-borne debris (coastal storm event hydrodynamic factors). Hurricane Ivan, in 2004, caused major damage to the I-10 Escambia Bay bridge in Florida. Permanent replacement of this bridge is still years away. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused extensive damage to a number of bridges in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The potential for these storm events was not unexpected as scientists at the National Hurricane Center have been predicting a period of increased frequency and severity of tropical storm events. A functional transportation system is essential for both evacuation before an event, and for response and recovery after an event. Closures of critical routes can hurt response and recovery and can lead to hardships and economic losses. It is essential to address the increasing risk of hurricanes and other storm-related damages, and develop and implement solutions prior to the occurrence of these events. The seismic community and the wind hazards community have developed mitigation strategies to handle load-induced damages for the respective natural hazards. Years of research have gone into developing retrofit solutions for existing structures, and for improved designs of new structures. The result has been better understanding of important contributing factors and applicability of these mitigation strategies. Similarly, there is a need for a greater understanding of how coastal storm hydrodynamic factors can damage bridge structures. A systematic research approach leading to the development of strategies and options to reduce vulnerability of structures in coastal environments that parallels the seismic and wind programs needs to be undertaken. Initial steps would investigate the coastal force loadings and the applicability of bridge design options available for other hazards in a coastal hazard context. Subsequent work would refine and further develop appropriate strategies and methods. Ultimately, recommendations that include standard details and specification provisions would be provided. These recommendations to improve retrofit strategies, standards, and codes should ultimately reduce the risk and economic losses from future storm events. Project Description This project will develop guide specification language addressing wave loadings and potential solutions for retrofitting those bridges vulnerable to coastal storms borrowing from existing knowledge on hazard mitigation strategies and conducting analytical and limited experimental testing to validate these solutions for mitigating coastal storm event bridge damages. It is envisioned that the solutions developed will be risk based with retrofit options identified for varying intensity storms and wave heights, and with performance-based damage options that provide for solutions resulting in essentially no damage up to imminent collapse. Project results will provide retrofit options that allow owners to make investment decisions based on varying levels of acceptable risk versus anticipated performance. Some potential solutions borrowed from other fields may include venting, shear keys, tie downs, energy dissipation devices, or designing for continuity of spans or for uplift forces. However, these and any other recommendations envisioned would have to be validated for loads encountered by structures under this extreme event. The project must address concerns on how implementation of the new concepts may lead to changes in load path. The solutions should not lead to failures in other parts of the bridge where inspection is difficult or where repair or rebuilding may be delayed or more costly. The proposed recommendations must be practical in terms of workability and cost. These retrofit concepts will be presented ina handbook as a companion to the new wave loading guide specification.

Objectives

The objective of this project is to develop a guide specification and a handbook of retrofit strategies and options to mitigate damage to highway bridges subject to coastal storm hydrodynamic factors, and recommend improvements for bridges in coastal environments. The scope of work consists of development of tools needed for designing and assessing bridges under varying wave height and storm surge loading conditions.

Scope of Work

The scope of work consists of development of loading demands and retrofit solutions validated through analytical work and limited experimental testing in phase 2 to determine performance of bridges under varying wave height and loading conditions. The solutions recommended and standards developed under this project will be available for immediate implementation by the States and other bridge owners, and for adoption into AASHTO specifications as appropriate. Training and educational materials will be developed after the completion of the specifications and retrofit documents. These unified efforts of a multidiscipline group are managed under a joint AASHTO/FHWA task force.

Comments

Suggested minimum contribution: $30,000 Funds are still being solicited from potential partners. The commitments received to date will not fully fund the study estimate of $700,000. Additional funds, in excess of 700,000 will be needed to develop educational and training materials. It is estimated that this total effort will cost an estimated $1,000,000.

Documents Attached
Title File/Link Type Privacy Download
Draft Task 6a - 90% Guide Specification Draft_90pct_Coastal_Specs.pdf Report Public
Progress Report 8/4/2007 Progress_Report2007-08-04.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 7/5/2007 Progress_Report2007-07-05.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 5/5/2007 Progress_Report2007-05-05.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Draft Task 6b - 90% Retrofit Manual draft_90pct_Retrofit_Handbook.pdf Report Public
Draft Specification 50% draft_spec_50pct.pdf Report Public
Draft Retrofit Manual 50% draft_retrofit_manual_50pct.pdf Report Public
Progress Report 3/31/2007 Progress_Report2007-03-31.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 3/5/2007 Progress_Report2007-03-05.pdf Report Public
Progress Report 1/23/2007 Progress_Report2007-01-23.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 1/31/2007 Progress_Report2007-01-31.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 11/30/2006 and Meeting Minutes 12/05-06/2006 Part2 Progress_Report2006-11-30-2.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 11/30/2006 and Meeting Minutes 12/05-06/2006 Part1 Progress_Report2006-11-30-1.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 09-30-2006 Progress_Report2006-09-30.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public

No document attached.

Development of Guide Specifications for Bridges Vulnerable to Coastal Storms and Handbook of Retrofit Options for Bridges Vulnerable to Coastal Storms

General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(130)
Lead Organization: Federal Highway Administration
Contract Start Date: Sep 01, 2006
Solicitation Number: 1072
Partners: AL, FHWA, FL, GADOT, LA, MS, NC, NY, SC, TX, VA
Contractor(s): Modjeski and Masters, Inc.
Status: Closed
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number: DTFH61-06-T-70006
Last Updated: Jun 21, 2010
Contract End Date: Sep 30, 2009
Financial Summary
Contract Amount: $700,000.00
Total Commitments Received: $590,000.00
100% SP&R Approval:
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Firas Ibrahim
firas.ibrahim@dot.gov
Phone: 202-366-4598
Commitments by Organizations
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address
Alabama Department of Transportation 2006 $30,000.00 Michelle Owens Jeff Brown 334-353-6941 brownje@dot.state.al.us
Federal Highway Administration 2006 $200,000.00 Sheila Duwadi Jean Landolt 202-493-3146 Jean.Landolt@dot.gov
Florida Department of Transportation 2006 $50,000.00 William Nickas Patti Brannon 850-414-4616 patti.brannon@dot.state.fl.us
Georgia Department of Transportation 2007 $30,000.00 Paul Liles Paul Liles paul.liles@dot.state.ga.us
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development 2007 $30,000.00 Harold Paul Harold Paul 225-767-9101 harold.paul@la.gov
Mississippi Department of Transportation 2006 $30,000.00 Mitch Carr James Watkins 601-359-7650 jwatkins@mdot.state.ms.us
New York State Department of Transportation 2006 $50,000.00 Wayne Gannett Gary Frederick 518-457-4645 gary.frederick@dot.ny.gov
North Carolina Department of Transportation 2006 $25,000.00 Greg Perfetti Mrinmay Biswas 919-508-1865 biswas@ncdot.gov
North Carolina Department of Transportation 2007 $25,000.00 Greg Perfetti Mrinmay Biswas 919-508-1865 biswas@ncdot.gov
South Carolina Department of Transportation 2006 $20,000.00 Barry Bowers Mike Sanders 803-737-6691 SandersMR@dot.state.sc.us
South Carolina Department of Transportation 2007 $20,000.00 Barry Bowers Mike Sanders 803-737-6691 SandersMR@dot.state.sc.us
Texas Department of Transportation 2006 $50,000.00 Michelle Romage Frank Bailey 512- 416-4730 rtimain@txdot.gov
Virginia Department of Transportation 2007 $30,000.00 Charles Pettie Bill Kelsh 434-293-1934 Bill.Kelsh@VDOT.Virginia.gov

Study Description

Study Description

Recent hurricanes have demonstrated the vulnerability of bridges to wave forces, storm surges, and storm-borne debris (coastal storm event hydrodynamic factors). Hurricane Ivan, in 2004, caused major damage to the I-10 Escambia Bay bridge in Florida. Permanent replacement of this bridge is still years away. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused extensive damage to a number of bridges in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The potential for these storm events was not unexpected as scientists at the National Hurricane Center have been predicting a period of increased frequency and severity of tropical storm events. A functional transportation system is essential for both evacuation before an event, and for response and recovery after an event. Closures of critical routes can hurt response and recovery and can lead to hardships and economic losses. It is essential to address the increasing risk of hurricanes and other storm-related damages, and develop and implement solutions prior to the occurrence of these events. The seismic community and the wind hazards community have developed mitigation strategies to handle load-induced damages for the respective natural hazards. Years of research have gone into developing retrofit solutions for existing structures, and for improved designs of new structures. The result has been better understanding of important contributing factors and applicability of these mitigation strategies. Similarly, there is a need for a greater understanding of how coastal storm hydrodynamic factors can damage bridge structures. A systematic research approach leading to the development of strategies and options to reduce vulnerability of structures in coastal environments that parallels the seismic and wind programs needs to be undertaken. Initial steps would investigate the coastal force loadings and the applicability of bridge design options available for other hazards in a coastal hazard context. Subsequent work would refine and further develop appropriate strategies and methods. Ultimately, recommendations that include standard details and specification provisions would be provided. These recommendations to improve retrofit strategies, standards, and codes should ultimately reduce the risk and economic losses from future storm events. Project Description This project will develop guide specification language addressing wave loadings and potential solutions for retrofitting those bridges vulnerable to coastal storms borrowing from existing knowledge on hazard mitigation strategies and conducting analytical and limited experimental testing to validate these solutions for mitigating coastal storm event bridge damages. It is envisioned that the solutions developed will be risk based with retrofit options identified for varying intensity storms and wave heights, and with performance-based damage options that provide for solutions resulting in essentially no damage up to imminent collapse. Project results will provide retrofit options that allow owners to make investment decisions based on varying levels of acceptable risk versus anticipated performance. Some potential solutions borrowed from other fields may include venting, shear keys, tie downs, energy dissipation devices, or designing for continuity of spans or for uplift forces. However, these and any other recommendations envisioned would have to be validated for loads encountered by structures under this extreme event. The project must address concerns on how implementation of the new concepts may lead to changes in load path. The solutions should not lead to failures in other parts of the bridge where inspection is difficult or where repair or rebuilding may be delayed or more costly. The proposed recommendations must be practical in terms of workability and cost. These retrofit concepts will be presented ina handbook as a companion to the new wave loading guide specification.

Objectives

The objective of this project is to develop a guide specification and a handbook of retrofit strategies and options to mitigate damage to highway bridges subject to coastal storm hydrodynamic factors, and recommend improvements for bridges in coastal environments. The scope of work consists of development of tools needed for designing and assessing bridges under varying wave height and storm surge loading conditions.

Scope of Work

The scope of work consists of development of loading demands and retrofit solutions validated through analytical work and limited experimental testing in phase 2 to determine performance of bridges under varying wave height and loading conditions. The solutions recommended and standards developed under this project will be available for immediate implementation by the States and other bridge owners, and for adoption into AASHTO specifications as appropriate. Training and educational materials will be developed after the completion of the specifications and retrofit documents. These unified efforts of a multidiscipline group are managed under a joint AASHTO/FHWA task force.

Comments

Suggested minimum contribution: $30,000 Funds are still being solicited from potential partners. The commitments received to date will not fully fund the study estimate of $700,000. Additional funds, in excess of 700,000 will be needed to develop educational and training materials. It is estimated that this total effort will cost an estimated $1,000,000.

Title File/Link Type Private
Progress Report 09-30-2006 Progress_Report2006-09-30.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 11/30/2006 and Meeting Minutes 12/05-06/2006 Part1 Progress_Report2006-11-30-1.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 11/30/2006 and Meeting Minutes 12/05-06/2006 Part2 Progress_Report2006-11-30-2.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 1/31/2007 Progress_Report2007-01-31.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 1/23/2007 Progress_Report2007-01-23.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 3/31/2007 Progress_Report2007-03-31.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 5/5/2007 Progress_Report2007-05-05.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 7/5/2007 Progress_Report2007-07-05.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 8/4/2007 Progress_Report2007-08-04.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Progress Report 3/5/2007 Progress_Report2007-03-05.pdf Report Public
Draft Retrofit Manual 50% draft_retrofit_manual_50pct.pdf Report Public
Draft Specification 50% draft_spec_50pct.pdf Report Public
Draft Task 6b - 90% Retrofit Manual draft_90pct_Retrofit_Handbook.pdf Report Public
Draft Task 6a - 90% Guide Specification Draft_90pct_Coastal_Specs.pdf Report Public
No document attached.

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