Category: 2017

PI: Baabak Ashuri

Co-PI(s): 

Institution(s): Georgia Institute of Technology

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Abstract

Prepared in cooperation with the GDOT Office of Innovative Delivery, this research found the areas of challenges of design liability in the design-build environment, including: (a) issues related to design claims in design-build, (b) heightened standard of care in design-build, and (c) change in design professional liability insurance due to design-build. The research examined the state of the practice in the following areas: (a) fundamental types of design professional liability insurance available for design-build projects, (b) significance and variations of design professional liability insurance policy elements with regard to state DOTs? specification requirements, and (c) decision-making considerations concerning design professional liability insurance.

Project Video

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PI: Mi Geum Chorzepa

Co-PI(s): Brian Oyegbile and Stephan Durham 

Institution(s): The University of Georgia

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Abstract

Most in-service bridges in the United States are constructed between the 1950s and 1970s, with an average lifespan ranging from 50 to 100 years. Consequently, an increasing number of these bridges are in need of maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement (MRR). Adversely, the MRR budget is constrained. Therefore, bridge owners are faced with a difficult task of balancing the condition of their bridges with the cost of maintaining them. To optimize return on investments (ROIs), a strategic move is proposed in this study as a purposeful step taken by transportation agencies in order to increase ROIs on bridge MRRs. This strategic move is implemented in a game theory framework. In computing a time-dependent bridge performance relationship, this study employs a Co-Active mechanism, which was developed in the previous study. An integrated approach utilizing the coactive prioritization and game theory model is used to compute the payoffs for the states of Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.

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Abstract

This study investigates different scenarios that reflect the depreciation of critical CoRe bridge elements and their potential impacts on the interpretation of BHI. The relative importance and contributions of various elements to the continuing functionality of bridges are analyzed. This analysis also includes the newly introduced concept of element quantity distribution coefficients and its potential application in bridge depreciation modeling.

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PI: Brian Bledsoe

Co-PI(s): Devan Fitzpatrick, Tanner Buggs, Timothy Stephens, Roderick Lammers 

Institution(s): The University of Georgia

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Abstract

Bridge construction often requires the installation of temporary features such as rock jetties and cofferdams in stream and river channels. Environmental permitting agencies seek documentation, and in some cases quantification, of the potential effects of these temporary features on instream velocities and channel bank and bed scour; however, there is no existing guidance or standard method for evaluating the potential effects of these temporary structures on hydraulics, bank stability, and biological habitats. This research improves the Georgia Department of Transportation?s ability to effectively respond to environmental permitting agency concerns about the potential geomorphic and hydraulic effects of temporary instream jetties associated with bridge construction. New modeling and risk assessment tools were developed for predicting average changes in velocity and shear stress in the reach affected by a jetty using readily available information. The results can be used to determine hydraulic and geomorphic effects of jetties prior to installation, and provide information about the spatial distributions of velocity and shear stress changes near jetties. A risk assessment approach was developed that synthesizes these results and predictive regressions for shear stress and velocity into one comprehensive spreadsheet-based tool for predicting the potential hydraulic and geomorphic effects of jetties when more complex modeling is infeasible. This research can be applied to a large array of unsubmerged structures and advances the current set of tools available for preliminary structural design and environmental management decisions.

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PI: James (Yichang) Tsai

Co-PI(s):  

Institution(s): Georgia Institute of Technology

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Abstract

GDOT has an active curve safety program that applies HFST on specific curves and Georgia is number one state in the nation for HFST usage by volume (more than 400 curve sites installed with HFST). Based on National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) observations, the significant concern over HFST is that its friction would drop suddenly at the HFST?s end of life even for the HFST with normal and good performance and the there is no clear friction trend to predict this friction drop. Continuously monitoring the friction of the HFST sites on a regular basis is the ideal way to determine HFST end of life. However, it is not practical to regularly monitor more than 400 HFST curves located across the Georgia in 5 GDOT Working Districts with limited testing resources. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to critically assess and understand the long-term performance deterioration of different friction improvement surface treatments including calcined bauxite HFST, and local bauxite (Feldspar) epoxy overlay closely in Georgia?s different real-world conditions. Also, this research aims to recommend the modules and guidance on data collection items including locations, frequencies, performance measures and metrics to support the optimized, network-level HFST long-term performance monitoring and maintenance program based on the critical assessment results from the performance monitoring.

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