The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and North Carolina State University have partnered to learn how to improve the longevity of the state’s bridges.
Students will design and test a retrofit system for deteriorating, prestressed concrete beams. They are using two bridges’ beams provided by NCDOT for their research.
The students successfully tested a final full-scale beam with a retrofit solution installed earlier this month.
“We’re going to test some other types of beams,” Neil Mastin, NCDOT research and development manager, said “This is the only type that’s out there. We have many dozens of types of beams available at DOT. We’ll see what happens with some future research.”
The students are testing the use of carbon-fiber technology, Mastin said, a product that will save transportation funds.
Replacement bridges take months, if not years, to schedule and complete. Once a bridge needs repair, NCDOT restricts the vehicle weight limit. This can negatively affect emergency services and industry.
The partnership’s second goal is to develop a retrofit solution that can allow bridges to remain open with an increased weight limit until a permanent replacement can be completed. The solution must be able to be installed in one day and increase the bridge’s strength.