Developing notional bridges based on Florida Bridge Inventory

Abstract

Onset and progression of damage in bridges of various types are not always visually detectable. There have been instances that hidden damages in structural members such as girders, bracing and bridge deck have caused catastrophic collapses costing life and money . Steel bridges with fracture critical elements and cable-supported/post-tensioned bridges are among vivid examples of such cases. The failure of the Silver Bridge in Ohio in 1967, Collapse of I-35 W bridge over Mississippi River in 2007, pedestrian bridge collapse over a congested road in Miami, FL, in 2018, closure of I-526 Bridge over Wando River due to rupture of post-tensioning tendons and closure of Chicago's Lake Shore Drive Bridge due to cracks in structural steel support girders are examples that could be prevented if the onset and progress of damages could be detected early. After each failure incident, state and federal agencies normally issue instruction for in-depth inspection of all population of bridges with similar characteristics, imposing huge costs and burden on the bridge maintenance agencies.