Category Archives: Bridges and Structures

Bridges and Structures

Webinar: Technology for Bridge Preservation and Maintenance

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The following announcement comes from the Center for Transporation Studies (See Seminars for other opportunities and recordings.)

Webinar
Thursday, June 15, 2023
1:00–2:30 p.m. Central

About the Event

This webinar will highlight how sensors and drones are being used in bridge maintenance and preservation—and explore how such technologies may help to shape the future of transportation infrastructure.

U of M associate professor Lauren Linderman will share thoughts from her contribution to our Future of Mobility series. In Sensing the Future of Infrastructure, she explains that sensor technology can provide vital data about bridges and other structures, allow for better performance tracking, and help stakeholders make more informed choices about future projects.

Jennifer Wells, state bridge inspection engineer at MnDOT, will discuss the agency’s unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) bridge inspections program.

The webinar is being held in conjunction with a meeting of the CTS Transportation Infrastructure Research Council.

Speakers

Lauren Linderman is an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Her research is focused on cyber-physical systems to improve the long-term performance of structures or limit their response during transient events, such as earthquakes or strong winds. Her primary areas of interest include structural monitoring, vibration mitigation strategies, wireless sensor systems, and data acquisition techniques.

Jennifer Wells is the state bridge inspection engineer at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and has been with the agency for more than 20 years. She is the project manager for the UAS research projects phases I and II. She received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan Tech University and a Master of Science in infrastructure systems engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Registration

This webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link. The link should not be shared with others; it is unique to you.

If you’re unable to join us for the live broadcast, a recording will be available here after the event.

Credit

Attendees are eligible for Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) maintenance credits.

More Information

Please contact Samantha Hahn-Douville at snhahn@umn.edu.

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Bridges and Structures

Assessment of GFRP-Reinforced Bridge Deck Performance

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A nonmetallic alternative to the steel rebars that reinforce concrete bridge decks has the potential to be longer lasting and more cost-effective in keeping bridges maintained in Minnesota’s harsh climate. Initial studies show that the performance of bridge decks built with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) is comparable to—if not better than—conventionally built decks.

Continue reading Assessment of GFRP-Reinforced Bridge Deck Performance →
Bridges and Structures, Research

New methods to determine safe bridge loading will help keep Minnesota’s truck freight moving

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April 10, 2023

When transportation officials determine which route a heavy truck should take, their aim is maximizing efficiency while ensuring safety. Detours around bridges on critical freight routes increase fuel and labor costs for the trucking industry—and eventually hit consumer pocketbooks, too.

Continue reading New methods to determine safe bridge loading will help keep Minnesota’s truck freight moving →
Bridges and Structures

Updating Load Ratings for Shingle Creek Slab-Span Bridges

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Detours around bridges in a critical freight transportation route create costs to the trucking industry, taxpayers and state economy. New load rating factors for the slab-span bridges across Shingle Creek will give MnDOT more flexibility in managing truck traffic and keeping freight moving efficiently.

Continue reading Updating Load Ratings for Shingle Creek Slab-Span Bridges →
Bridges and Structures

Estimating Corrosion of Embedded Steel Rebars in Bridge Structures

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Corrosion of steel reinforcement in bridge structures creates uncertainty in the structural capacity. A new prediction tool will help estimate rebar section loss to accurately plan for appropriate bridge maintenance repairs. 

Continue reading Estimating Corrosion of Embedded Steel Rebars in Bridge Structures →
Bridges and Structures

Nondestructive Detection of Pile Length for High-Mast Light Towers

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A new testing method will allow MnDOT to determine the underground foundation pile depths of high-mast light towers (HMLTs) without digging or dismantling. HMLTs need to meet design standards to ensure load-bearing stability. By using the new method to evaluate pile depth, MnDOT could avoid costly retrofits or replacements, and prioritize light towers in need of redesign.  

Continue reading Nondestructive Detection of Pile Length for High-Mast Light Towers →
Bridges and Structures

Managing Building Assets With Scanning and Reality Modeling

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MnDOT owns and maintains approximately 900 buildings across Minnesota, and the Building Services Section is responsible for planning repairs, renovations or expansions. Architects, engineers and other specialists involved in these activities require data regarding building and site conditions. Collecting this data is often a multidisciplinary and laborious effort that can be time-consuming and expensive. Alternative technologies, however, can gather and process large amounts of accurate information more comprehensively, safely and cost-effectively. 

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Bridges and Structures

New Project: Bridge Low Slump Concrete Overlay Mix Design for Mobile Mixers

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In recent years, MnDOT has seen an increase in cracking of low slump overlays. Cracking of overlays allows chlorides to get into the bridge deck which leads to deterioration of the reinforcement and eventual delamination or spalling.  This means that the bridge deck needs to be repaired or even replaced before the service life has been reached. 

What is a low slump overlay? A low slump overlay is a technique used by DOTs to extend the life of bridge decks. They are typically 2″ thick and designed to provide low permeability.

Continue reading New Project: Bridge Low Slump Concrete Overlay Mix Design for Mobile Mixers →