Scribd
Upload
405 views17 pages

AASHTO Guide Manual For Bridge Element Inspection AASHTO ...

The document summarizes the AASHTO Guide Manual for Bridge Element Inspection. It outlines the history of commonly recognized bridge elements and the need to update the guide to better capture bridge conditions. Significant changes include four condition states for all elements, measuring decks and slabs by square area, and separating wearing surfaces and protective coatings. The guide establishes three element types and provides guidance on implementing the new system through training, software updates, and data migration while not impacting sufficiency ratings.

Uploaded by

fanfengli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
405 views17 pages

AASHTO Guide Manual For Bridge Element Inspection AASHTO ...

The document summarizes the AASHTO Guide Manual for Bridge Element Inspection. It outlines the history of commonly recognized bridge elements and the need to update the guide to better capture bridge conditions. Significant changes include four condition states for all elements, measuring decks and slabs by square area, and separating wearing surfaces and protective coatings. The guide establishes three element types and provides guidance on implementing the new system through training, software updates, and data migration while not impacting sufficiency ratings.

Uploaded by

fanfengli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17

AASHTO Guide Manual for

Bridge Element Inspection

Barton Newton, PE
State Bridge Maintenance Engineer
California Department of Transportation
2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures
Sacramento, California
CoRe Element Guide History
 In 1993 The FHWA Created A Task Force
Charged With Developing The Commonly
Recognized Elements (CoRe Elements)
 Core Was Adopted By AASHTO T-18 In
1995.
 In 1997 The FHWA Adopted The Element
Translator To Allow Elements In Lieu Of
NBI Condition Ratings.
 Core Elements Have Had Two Minor
Changes Since 1995 (Decks/Slabs And
Technical Correction)

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


The Need For Change
Fully capture all condition defects on the
bridges.

Incorporate 15 years of suggestions from


inspectors and managers.

Change the units of decks/slabs to square


area measurement.

Improve Bridge Management System results.

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


The Need For Change
Improve the presentation of the condition
state definitions.

Improve the deck and slab language to


capture structural capacity and defects of
these high maintenance items.

Separate wearing surfaces and protective


coatings to improve management of these
protection systems.

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Element Level Inspection
Improvement Team

State DOT Representatives


AASHTO T-18 Members
BRIDGEWare Task Force Members

Federal Highway Administration


Representatives, including Federal Lands

Local Agency Representative

AASHTO Representative

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Goal

“To develop the best approach to


bridge condition assessment
possible and implement it’s use
nationwide”

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Significant Changes

Four condition states for all elements.


Follow – Good, Fair, Poor, Severe convention.

Deck and Slab units changed to square


feet (meters).

Wearing surfaces separated from deck


element.

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Significant Changes

All smart flags have been incorporated


into condition state language.

Intuitive defect presentation of the


condition states.

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Significant Changes
Steel protective coatings separated from
steel.

Smart Flags operate at the element level.

Enhanced element commentary to help


the inspector.

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Three Element Types
 National Bridge Elements (NBE’s)

 Provide
Provide the
the minimum
minimum element
element set
set to
to define
define safety
safety and
and
load
load capacity
capacity of
of bridges.
bridges.
 Decks,
Decks, Slabs,
Slabs, Girders,
Girders, Columns,
Columns, Abutments
Abutments etc.
etc.

 Bridge Management Elements (BME’s)



 Elements
Elements define
define secondary
secondary bridge
bridge components.
components.
 Joints,
Joints, wearing
wearing surfaces,
surfaces, protective
protective coatings,
coatings, etc.
etc.

 Agency Developed Elements



 Manual
Manual supports
supports the
the creation
creation of
of agency
agency defined
defined
elements.
elements.
 May
May deteriorate
deteriorate or
or not
not
 Can
Can include
include non-bridge
non-bridge items
items

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Implementation

Development of training
Revisions to manuals
Data migration
Changes to software
Training
Continuous Guide Manual
Improvement

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Implementation
Will retraining of our inspectors be required?
 The new elements build on a concept that
they are familiar with, however some
training will be required.
 Many of the changes in the new elements
will appeal to the field inspectors and will
be welcome improvements.
 The consistent four state model will
provide for more standardized inspection
from one element to the next. More
standardized information should improve
data quality and consistency

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Implementation
Will the new elements work in Pontis?
 Pontis 5.2 will be able to accommodate the
new element definitions and will have the
capability to handle sub-sets and agency
developed elements.
 Pontis will facilitate the conversion of older
element data for the majority of state
DOT’s.
 The new element definitions will provide
vastly improved modeling and cost
estimating too.

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Implementation

Will the new element manual impact the


sufficiency rating?

The new elements are not currently


associated with the sufficiency
rating and will have no impact on
project eligibility or apportionment.

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Summary

 State-of-the-art tool for bridge owners to


manage their bridge inventory
 Provides a comprehensive set of bridge
elements designed to be flexible for
agencies needs
 Significant improvement to the previous
1994 CoRe Guide
 Positive step in advancing bridge
inspection, condition assessment, and
bridge management

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


Remember the Goal

“To develop the best approach to


bridge condition assessment
possible and implement it’s use
nationwide”

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures


T-18 Thanks You

(Vote Yes)

2010 AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridge & Structures

You might also like