The
University of Wisconsin will develop and assist in the design
of a modified concrete deck and girder system for a major
bridge structure. This new technology includes a steel-free
deck system. The corrosion of steel reinforcement in conventional
deck systems is the main cause of deterioration of deck slabs.
Initial construction cost is lower without steel reinforcement
and life cycle cost is reduced because of replacement of deteriorated
deck is not required. This project is part of a bridge replacement
and widening project on Dane County Highway BB over Interstate
Highway 39/90 in Madison, WI.
An
Embedded Sensing System for Paperboard Tubes
Research by
Huldah Gronvall/ Prof. Lawrence Bank
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Over
the past few decades, due to increased speeds and capacities
of manufacturing equipment, there has been a steady increase
in the performance requirements for spirally-wound paperboard
tubes (also known as "cores") on which paper, film,
metals, and textiles are wound.
Rutting
and Fatigue Specifications for Asphalt Binders
(Sponsored by Wisconsin Highway Research Program)
Researcher
by
Rodrigo Delgadillo, Kitae Nam/ Prof. Hussain Bahia
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Two
of the main distresses of asphalt pavements are rutting and
fatigue. Rutting is characterized by permanent deformation of
the pavement. It generally develops during the hot seasons,
when the asphalt is softer. It can be identified by ruts on
the wheel path. Fatigue is characterized by longitudinal cracks
on the wheel path in the first stage, and by alligator cracking
in an advanced damage stage.
The
primary objective of this project was to complete a systematic
assessment of concrete bridge deck and crack sealers based on
their effectiveness and life performance. Deck sealers are commonly
applied during the final stages of construction to protect the
deck against chloride ion intrusion. Crack sealers are used to
penetrate, fill, and bond existing cracks back together. While
both types of products are commonly used by Departments of Transportation
around the country, little is known about the effectiveness of
the products over time.
Failure
Prediction of Gypsum Board Exposed to Elevated Temperatures
Research by
Gumpon Sriprutkiat & Onesty Friday/
Prof. Steve Cramer
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Gypsum
board, commonly known as drywall, is normally used in buildings.
It not only gives a nice finish, but is also a fire barrier. In
case of fire, it would provide time for people to escape and for
fire fighter to put out the fire.
Innovative
Bridge Design and Construction III
Bridge B-13-161 on I-90 With Full Depth Precast Deck Panels
Research by
F.
Greg Ehmke, Scott
Markowski/
Prof.
Lawrence Bank, Prof. Michael Oliva
& Prof. Jeff Russell
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
In this research project the use of full-depth precast concrete
deck panels for rapid bridge deck installation was investigated.
In the course of the research laboratory tests were conducted
in the Wisconsin Structures and Materials Testing Lab (WSMTL)
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) and plans and specifications
were developed for implementing the system on a bridge on I-90
over Door Creek near Janesville, Dane County, Wisconsin.
Experimental
and Analytical Optimization of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP)
Grid-Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decking
Research
by
Tom Ringelstetter/
Prof.
Lawrence Bank, Prof. Michael Oliva
& Prof. Jeff Russell
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
The
purpose of this research is to investigate the optimization of
three-dimensional fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing grids
and integrated stay-in-place (SIP) formwork for reinforcing and
forming highway bridge decks.
Using
the Gyratory Compactor to Measure the Mechanical Stability of
Asphalt Mixtures
Research by
Ahmed Fatin Faheem Mahmoud/ Prof. Hussain Bahia
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
In
this study several asphalt mixtures were produced using four different
sources, different asphalt contents, and different gradations. Every
mixture was compacted using the SGC.
Earlywood
and Latewood Longitudinal Shrinkage in Loblolly Pine
Research by
Seth Pfeil, Chad Mertz/Prof. Steve Cramer
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Prof.
Rod Lakes
Dept of Engineering Mechanics
Dave Kretschmann
Forest Products Laboratory
Wood
tends to shrink in all directions as it dries. Ideally, this shrinkage
would be uniform throughout a structural member such that it could
be accurately predicted. In reality, warping caused by differential
shrinkages is a common occurrence in wood members. The variation
of shrinkage properties throughout the cross section of a tree may
account for these warp-causing differentials.
Use
of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Reinforcement Cage in Concrete
Bridge Decking
Research
by
David A. Jacobson, Jr. & Mack Conachen/
Prof.
Lawrence Bank, Prof. Michael Oliva
& Prof. Jeff Russell
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
The
deteriorating condition of bridges and other infrastructure facilities
is recognized by highway agencies as one of the most complex problems
in transportation infrastructure. As a result, the Wisconsin Department
of Transportation is seeking innovative and cost-effective technologies
to retrofit and rehabilitate many of the State's bridges.
Resistance
of asphalt mixtures to moisture damage is commonly known as a
function of interaction between asphalt and aggregate as they
are exposed to water. For many years, a number of research focused
on moisture damage have listed a number of important factors.
The mineralogical composition of aggregate and asphalt chemistry
is well known as an important factor in the susceptibility of
asphalt mixtures to moisture damage.
In
this research project the use of a new combination of Fiber Reinforced
Polymer (FRP) composite materials to reinforce bridge decks was
investigated. In the course of the research laboratory tests were
conducted in the Wisconsin Structures and Materials Testing Lab
(WSMTL) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) and a new
bridge was constructed on US Highway 151 near the city of Waupun,
Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin utilizing the innovative FRP reinforcing
system.
Ground
Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS)
Research by
Irene LaBarca, Ryan Foley, Nick Mason & Chad Sippel/
Prof. Steve Cramer
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Ground
Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) is a recyclable material
created when the molten slag from melted iron ore is quenched
rapidly and then ground into a powder. This material has cemetitious
properties and has been used as a replacement for cement for over
100 years. Recently, Wisconsin has begun using it in some of its
highway projects.
Critical
Evaluation of Using the SUPERPAVE Volumetric Mixture Design Procedure
for Modified Binders
Research by
Dong-Woo Cho/ Prof. Hussain Bahia
Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Asphalt
concrete is the composite material composed of aggregate and asphalt
binder to pave driving ways. It also can be categorized as flexible
pavement due to asphalt binder. Most roads have been paved with
asphalt concrete because asphalt concrete provides smooth driving,
easy construction and maintenance, and 100% recycling.
The
US Army identified a gap defeat requirement for the US Army Future
Combat System (FCS). The estimated 30-ton vehicle must be able
to defeat (cross in same manner) gaps up to 4-meters wide within
3 minutes for assured mobility on the battlefield.
There
are many steel bridges in the U.S. that have low fatigue resistant
details. Fatigue cracks that go undetected can lead to larger
cracks and in some cases cause structural failure. Typically,
inspectors will conduct a visual inspection to determine if
a structure is experiencing detrimental cracking.
