Health Monitoring and Modeling of an Integral Backwall Bridge

About the project:

The purpose of this project is to validate and expand VDOT’s design and construction guidelines for integral bridges. To achieve this, the researcher proposes additional monitoring and data collection on the skewed integral bridge on Route 18 over Blue Springs Run in Alleghany County and developing and calibrating a finite element model of the bridge.  Additional field data are needed to verify design assumptions and possibly revise existing guidelines.  This finite element model will be of great value in verifying and revising the design assumptions.  The project should result in expansion of VDOT’s current design guidelines for integral bridges by increasing the skew angle to as much as 45 degrees.  Further validation of the design and construction of elastic inclusion layers for integral bridges will also result.  Ultimately significant savings are expected in maintenance costs.

Project Team

Principal Investigators