Bridge and Structures Research and Development
When traveling over bridges and highway ramps, we all take for granted that these structures will hold. That confidence - exhibited nationwide - comes from the application of the reliable research done by our Structures research.
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Bridge Asset Management means what it sounds like.
We need to manage our structural assets well. We need to find
better ways to accurately assess our huge inventory of bridges
and know what kind of condition they are in. And we can. For
example, using non-destructive
evaluation (NDE) techniques and equipment, we can now use
laser radar to assess a bridge's structural condition. It's
more accurate, less destructive, and faster. Inspectors no longer
have to chip away at a crack in order to find out how deep it
goes. A major step forward!
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High-Performance Materials are being used in many States
now to build stronger, more durable bridges and roads. The high-performance
team at TFHRC investigates the use of steel, concrete, and composites
to this end.
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Engineering Applications encompasses a variety of topics.
For example how do you protect
a bridge from corrosion? Or how do you reduce the damage
caused by natural hazards? We're doing our best to protect our
bridges from that stuff we all love to see in the movies, but
truly do not want to experience—earthquakes, gale-force winds,
torrential rains and flooding, you name it!
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RELATED RESEARCH
BRIDGES:
Aerodynamics Laboratory
Bridge Management Information Systems (BMIS) Laboratory
Hydraulics and Hydrology
Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program
Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) Validation Center
Paint & Corrosion Laboratory
Anchor Wall Design and Construction - Executable Computer Program
CONCRETE:
Concrete Laboratory
Fiber Reinforced Concrete Subject Indices
High Performance Concrete Web site
Plain and Structural Concrete Subject Indices
STRUCTURES:
Geotechnical Laboratory and Geotechnical Research Team
Structures Laboratory
