OTREC-RR-11-10

OTREC-RR-11-10This report details a laboratory experiment examining realistic wave forcing on a highway bridge superstructure, measuring wave conditions, resulting forces, pressures, and structural response of a 1: 5 scale, reinforced concrete model of a typical section of the I 10 Bridge over Escambia Bay, FL that failed during Hurricane Ivan in 2004. A unique feature of this model is a roller and rail system which allows the specimen to move freely along the axis

This report details a laboratory experiment examining realistic wave forcing on a highway bridge superstructure, measuring wave conditions, resulting forces, pressures, and structural response of a 1:5 scale, reinforced concrete model of a typical section of the I-10 Bridge over Escambia Bay, FL that failed during Hurricane Ivan in 2004. A unique feature of this model is a roller and rail system which allows the specimen to move freely along the axis of wave propagation to simulate the dynamic response of the structure. Analysis examines the importance of the impulse load vs. the sustained wave load, the magnitudes of the horizontal to vertical forces, and their time histories to identify modes of failure. The thesis examines the relationship between wave momentum flux and measured forces, which are compared to recently published AASHTO guidelines. The author evaluates the distribution of forces under random wave conditions and proposes a method that calculates design loads based on exceedance probabilities.