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NATIONAL
NCHRP SYNTHESIS 345
COOPERATIVE
HIGHWAY
RESEARCH
PROGRAM
Steel Bridge
Erection Practices
A Synthesis of Highway Practice
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TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2005 (Membership as of March 2005)
OFFICERS
Chair: Joseph H. Boardman, Commissioner, New York State DOT
Vice Chair: Michael D. Meyer, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Executive Director: Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Transportation Research Board
MEMBERS
MICHAEL W. BEHRENS, Executive Director, Texas DOT
LARRY L. BROWN, SR., Executive Director, Mississippi DOT
DEBORAH H. BUTLER, Vice President, Customer Service, Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries, Atlanta, GA
ANNE P. CANBY, President, Surface Transportation Policy Project, Washington, DC
JOHN L. CRAIG, Director, Nebraska Department of Roads
DOUGLAS G. DUNCAN, President and CEO, FedEx Freight, Memphis, TN
NICHOLAS J. GARBER, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
ANGELA GITTENS, Consultant, Miami, FL
GENEVIEVE GIULIANO, Director, Metrans Transportation Center, and Professor, School of Policy, Planning, and Development,
USC, Los Angeles
BERNARD S. GROSECLOSE, JR., President and CEO, South Carolina State Ports Authority
SUSAN HANSON, Landry University Professor of Geography, Graduate School of Geography, Clark University
JAMES R. HERTWIG, President, CSX Intermodal, Jacksonville, FL
GLORIA J. JEFF, Director, Michigan DOT
ADIB K. KANAFANI, Cahill Professor of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
HERBERT S. LEVINSON, Principal, Herbert S. Levinson Transportation Consultant, New Haven, CT
SUE MCNEIL, Director and Professor, Urban Transportation Center, University of Illinois, Chicago
MICHAEL MORRIS, Director of Transportation, North Central Texas Council of Governments
CAROL A. MURRAY, Commissioner, New Hampshire DOT
JOHN R. NJORD, Executive Director, Utah DOT
PHILIP A. SHUCET, Commissioner, Virginia DOT
MICHAEL S. TOWNES, President and CEO, Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, VA
C. MICHAEL WALTON, Ernest H. Cockrell Centennial Chair in Engineering, University of Texas, Austin
LINDA S. WATSON, Executive Director, LYNX--Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority
MARION C. BLAKEY, Federal Aviation Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
REBECCA M. BREWSTER, President and COO, American Transportation Research Institute, Smyrna, GA (ex officio)
GEORGE BUGLIARELLO, Chancellor, Polytechnic University, and Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Engineering (ex officio)
THOMAS H. COLLINS (Adm., U.S. Coast Guard), Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard (ex officio)
JENNIFER L. DORN, Federal Transit Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
JAMES J. EBERHARDT, Chief Scientist, Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy (ex officio)
STACEY L. GERARD, Acting Deputy Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
EDWARD R. HAMBERGER, President and CEO, Association of American Railroads (ex officio)
JOHN C. HORSLEY, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (ex officio)
ROBERT D. JAMISON, Acting Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
EDWARD JOHNSON, Director, Applied Science Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (ex officio)
RICK KOWALEWSKI, Deputy Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
WILLIAM W. MILLAR, President, American Public Transportation Association (ex officio)
MARY E. PETERS, Federal Highway Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
ERIC C. PETERSON, Deputy Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
SUZANNE RUDZINSKI, Director, Transportation and Regional Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (ex officio)
JEFFREY W. RUNGE, National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
ANNETTE M. SANDBERG, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
WILLIAM G. SCHUBERT, Maritime Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
JEFFREY N. SHANE, Under Secretary for Policy, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
CARL A. STROCK (Maj. Gen., U.S. Army), Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ex officio)
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Transportation Research Board Executive Committee Subcommittee for NCHRP
JOSEPH H. BOARDMAN, New York State DOT (Chair) MARY E. PETERS, Federal Highway Administration
JOHN C. HORSLEY, American Association of State Highway ROBERT E. SKINNER, JR., Transportation Research Board
and Transportation Officials MICHAEL S. TOWNES, Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, VA
MICHAEL D. MEYER, Georgia Institute of Technology C. MICHAEL WALTON, University of Texas, Austin
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NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
NCHRP SYNTHESIS 345
Steel Bridge
Erection Practices
A Synthesis of Highway Practice
CONSULTANTS
FRED R. BECKMANN
Chicago Heights, Illinois
and
DENNIS R. MERTZ
University of Delaware
TOPIC PANEL
RALPH D. CSOGI, GreenmanPedersen, Inc.
FREDERICK D. HEJL, Transportation Research Board
RONALD D. MEDLOCK, Texas Department of Transportation
DAVID O. MILLER, Minnesota Department of Transportation
GEOFFREY D. SWETT, Washington State Department of Transportation
EDWARD P. WASSERMAN, Tennessee Department of Transportation
VASANT C. MISTRY, Federal Highway Administration (Liaison)
WILLIAM WRIGHT, Federal Highway Administration (Liaison)
S UBJECT A REAS
Bridges, Other Structures, Hydraulics, and Hydrology
Research Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
in Cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
WASHINGTON, D.C.
2005
www.TRB.org
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NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM NCHRP SYNTHESIS 345
Systematic, well-designed research provides the most effective Project 20-5 FY 2001 (Topic 33-10)
approach to the solution of many problems facing highway ISSN 0547-5570
administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local ISBN 0-309-09748-7
interest and can best be studied by highway departments Library of Congress Control No. 2005922232
individually or in cooperation with their state universities and © Transportation Research Board
others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation
develops increasingly complex problems of wide interest to Price $17.00
highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a
coordinated program of cooperative research.
In recognition of these needs, the highway administrators of the
American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials initiated in 1962 an objective national highway research NOTICE
program employing modern scientific techniques. This program is The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the National
supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating Cooperative Highway Research Program conducted by the Transportation
member states of the Association and it receives the full cooperation Research Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National
and support of the Federal Highway Administration, United States Research Council. Such approval reflects the Governing Board's judgment that
Department of Transportation. the program concerned is of national importance and appropriate with respect
The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies to both the purposes and resources of the National Research Council.
was requested by the Association to administer the research The members of the technical committee selected to monitor this project and
program because of the Board's recognized objectivity and to review this report were chosen for recognized scholarly competence and
with due consideration for the balance of disciplines appropriate to the project.
understanding of modern research practices. The Board is uniquely
The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied are those of the research
suited for this purpose as it maintains an extensive committee
agency that performed the research, and, while they have been accepted as
structure from which authorities on any highway transportation appropriate by the technical committee, they are not necessarily those of the
subject may be drawn; it possesses avenues of communications and Transportation Research Board, the National Research Council, the American
cooperation with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or the Federal
universities, and industry; its relationship to the National Research Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
Council is an insurance of objectivity; it maintains a full-time Each report is reviewed and accepted for publication by the technical
research correlation staff of specialists in highway transportation committee according to procedures established and monitored by the
matters to bring the findings of research directly to those who are in Transportation Research Board Executive Committee and the Governing
a position to use them. Board of the National Research Council.
The program is developed on the basis of research needs
identified by chief administrators of the highway and transportation
departments and by committees of AASHTO. Each year, specific
areas of research needs to be included in the program are proposed
to the National Research Council and the Board by the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Research projects to fulfill these needs are defined by the Board, and
qualified research agencies are selected from those that have
submitted proposals. Administration and surveillance of research
contracts are the responsibilities of the National Research Council
and the Transportation Research Board.
The needs for highway research are many, and the National
Cooperative Highway Research Program can make significant
contributions to the solution of highway transportation problems of
mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program,
however, is intended to complement rather than to substitute for or
duplicate other highway research programs.
Published reports of the
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
are available from:
Transportation Research Board
Business Office
NOTE: The Transportation Research Board of the National Acade- 500 Fifth Street, NW
mies, the National Research Council, the Federal Highway Adminis- Washington, DC 20001
tration, the American Association of State Highway and Transporta-
tion Officials, and the individual states participating in the National and can be ordered through the Internet at:
Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or
manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers' names appear herein http://www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore
solely because they are considered essential to the object of this
report. Printed in the United States of America
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The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished schol-
ars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology
and to their use for the general welfare. On the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in
1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and techni-
cal matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Acad-
emy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration
and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for
advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs
aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achieve-
ments of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the
services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining
to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of
Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, on its own initiative,
to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the
Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate
the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and
advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Acad-
emy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences
and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the
scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both the Academies and
the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. William A. Wulf are chair and vice chair,
respectively, of the National Research Council.
The Transportation Research Board is a division of the National Research Council, which serves the
National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. The Board's mission is to promote
innovation and progress in transportation through research. In an objective and interdisciplinary setting,
the Board facilitates the sharing of information on transportation practice and policy by researchers and
practitioners; stimulates research and offers research management services that promote technical
excellence; provides expert advice on transportation policy and programs; and disseminates research
results broadly and encourages their implementation. The Board's varied activities annually engage more
than 5,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and
private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is
supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of
the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the
development of transportation. www.TRB.org
www.national-academies.org
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NCHRP COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT 20-5 COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM STAFF
ROBERT J. REILLY, Director, Cooperative Research Programs
CHAIR CRAWFORD F. JENCKS, Manager, NCHRP
GARY D. TAYLOR, CTE Engineers EILEEN P. DELANEY, Director of Publications
MEMBERS NCHRP SYNTHESIS STAFF
THOMAS R. BOHUSLAV, Texas DOT STEPHEN R. GODWIN, Director for Studies and Information Services
DONN E. HANCHER, University of Kentucky JON WILLIAMS, Manager, Synthesis Studies
DWIGHT HORNE, Federal Highway Administration DONNA L. VLASAK, Senior Program Officer
YSELA LLORT, Florida DOT DON TIPPMAN, Editor
WESLEY S.C. LUM, California DOT CHERYL KEITH, Senior Secretary
JAMES W. MARCH, Federal Highway Administration
JOHN M. MASON, JR., Pennsylvania State University
CATHERINE NELSON, Oregon DOT
LARRY VELASQUEZ, New Mexico DOT
PAUL T. WELLS, New York State DOT
FHWA LIAISON
WILLIAM ZACCAGNINO
TRB LIAISON
MARK R. NORMAN
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FOREWORD Highway administrators, engineers, and researchers often face problems for which infor-
By Staff mation already exists, either in documented form or as undocumented experience and prac-
Transportation tice. This information may be fragmented, scattered, and unevaluated. As a consequence,
Research Board full knowledge of what has been learned about a problem may not be brought to bear on its
solution. Costly research findings may go unused, valuable experience may be overlooked,
and due consideration may not be given to recommended practices for solving or alleviat-
ing the problem.
There is information on nearly every subject of concern to highway administrators and
engineers. Much of it derives from research or from the work of practitioners faced with
problems in their day-to-day work. To provide a systematic means for assembling and eval-
uating such useful information and to make it available to the entire highway community,
the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials--through the
mechanism of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program--authorized the
Transportation Research Board to undertake a continuing study. This study, NCHRP Proj-
ect 20-5, "Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Problems," searches out and syn-
thesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented
reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute an NCHRP report series,
Synthesis of Highway Practice.
This synthesis series reports on current knowledge and practice, in a compact format,
without the detailed directions usually found in handbooks or design manuals. Each report
in the series provides a compendium of the best knowledge available on those measures
found to be the most successful in resolving specific problems.
PREFACE This report of the Transportation Research Board will be of interest to all individuals
involved in steel bridge fabrication, assembly, and erection. It examines, discusses, and
analyzes steel bridge erection practices for I-girder, tub-girder, and box-girder bridges; par-
ticularly curved, skewed, and staged structures. Key topics considered include the impact
of design and analysis practices on erection; methods used to predict erection deflections
as a function of bridge type and complexity; shop-assembly practices and alternate meth-
ods of ensuring properly assembled geometry; stability issues; field connection practices;
examples of structures in which erection practices have caused problems; owner require-
ments for erection procedures, implementation of requirements, and the impact of proce-
dures on the quality of erection; and current and proposed research.
This synthesis reports on the responses to three questionnaires sent to all U.S. state
departments of transportation (DOTs) and Canadian provinces, 24 steel bridge fabricators,
and 25 steel bridge erectors and contractors. Responses were received from 30 state DOTs,
2 provinces, 15 fabricators, and 4 erectors. Follow-up information was gathered by tele-
phone interviews.
A panel of experts in the subject area guided the work of organizing and evaluating the col-
lected data and reviewed the final synthesis report. A consultant was engaged to collect and
synthesize the information and to write the report. Both the consultant and the members of the
oversight panel are acknowledged on the title page. This synthesis is an immediately useful
document that records the practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowl-
edge available at the time of its preparation. As progress in research and practice continues,
new knowledge will be added to that now at hand.
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CONTENTS
1 SUMMARY
3 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Background, 3
Synthesis Objectives, 3
Synthesis Approach, 3
Terminology, 3
Report Organization, 5
Responses to Questionnaires, 5
6 CHAPTER TWO OWNER-SPECIFIED OR PREFERRED PRACTICES
Design, 6
Fabrication, 6
Erection, 7
9 CHAPTER THREE FABRICATOR PRACTICES AND VIEWS
Girder Assembly Practices, 9
Field Connection Practices, 9
Other Important Erection Considerations, 10
Key Issues for a Properly Erected Bridge, 10
11 CHAPTER FOUR ERECTOR PRACTICES AND VIEWS
Erection Procedure Provided by Owner, 11
Approach to Erection Sequence and Location of Falsework, 11
Stability When Lifting Curved Members, 11
Flange Sizing Requirements for Stability, 11
Where Does Responsibility for Stability Lie?, 11
Field Connection Practices, 12
General Considerations, 12
13 CHAPTER FIVE REPORTED PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE FIELD
Distortion Owing to Deck Cantilever Brackets, 13
Thermal Distortion of Sun Heating Erected Members, 13
Unanticipated Relative Distortion Between Construction Stages, 13
Girder Stability, 13
Unanticipated Distortion, 13
General Comments on Problems, 14
15 CHAPTER SIX SOLUTIONS TO REPORTED PROBLEMS
Distortion at Deck Cantilever Brackets, 15
Thermal Distortion of Sun Heating Erected Members, 15
Stage Construction, 15
Girder Stability, 15
Unanticipated Distortion, 16
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17 CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSIONS
Findings for Owners, 17
Findings for Fabricators, 18
Findings for Erectors, 18
20 REFERENCES
21 APPENDIX A SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE
31 APPENDIX B SURVEY RESPONSES
