STRUCTURES
Approximately 25% of bridges in the United States have been classified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Although the number of deficient bridges has gradually declined over the past decade, the remaining work must be done by state transportation agencies that often have limited funds for repairing or replacing bridges that are quickly aging beyond their planned service lives. KTC’s Structures group is dedicated to playing a critical role in preserving the nation’s infrastructure. They use the most sophisticated technology and modeling techniques to evaluate and monitor bridges and other structures, and implement novel, high-performance materials to strengthen new and existing structures. The group’s researchers have developed the CatStrong family of products (featured below) that are designed for quick application, which reduces the cost and labor necessary to complete bridge maintenance projects. The Structures group has worked extensively with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, completing over 85 projects on issues ranging from bridge retrofit and bridge replacement, to instrumenting bridges and performing structural health monitoring. Researchers also collaborate with KTC’s Bridge Preservation program and the Pavements, Materials, Geotechnology, and Infrastructure Assessment program to devise holistic solutions to challenging bridge structure problems.
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Featured Project: CatStrong Biaxial Hemp Wrap
The deteriorated wooden pier-piles on the KY 32 Bridge over Blaine Creek in Lawrence County required repair or replacement in order to keep the bridge in service. KTC’s Structures group assisted the District 12 Bridge Crew with a retrofit solution that deployed an experimental hemp fabric to apply to the damaged timber. The bridge is the first Civil Engineering structure in the world to use hemp as a construction material. UK students produced the CatStrong Biaxial Hemp Wrap (BHW) in the laboratory by applying a two-part epoxy resin to the fabric. Hemp is a natural fiber and an agricultural product of Kentucky, and has the advantages of being biodegradable and carrying a smaller carbon footprint than synthetic fibers. The Structures Laboratory plans to experiment with plant-based resins instead of epoxy to produce future biodegradable, flexible, lightweight, and re-usable wraps.
ACI Design Award
Dr. Issam Harik and Dr. Abheetha Peiris received the Prestigious American Concrete Institute (ACI) Design Award for 2021. Go to ACI’s webpage for more information. The award was given at the ACI’s President’s Virtual Reception. Congratulations to Drs. Harik and Peiris!
The CatStrong family of products are revolutionary, lightweight carbon fiber reinforced polymer rod panels, fabrics, and wraps used to repair deficient bridges. CatStrong products are designed for faster and more efficient application, reducing labor hours and equipment costs that are typically necessary for bridge maintenance projects.
CatStrong rod panels were the first product developed by a joint team of researchers from the Structures Program at The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) and the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Kentucky. The rod panels consist of small diameter carbon fiber rods that can resist up to 195,700 pounds of force per one foot wide section, but only weigh 6.48 ounces per square foot. On bridge structural members that have become deficient over time, CatStrong rod panels are bonded directly to existing reinforced and pre-stressed concrete. Scroll down to read about KTC projects that feature a lightweight carbon fiber CatStrong product. For specifications and further information about CRP rod panels and the complete line of CatStrong Products, please click here for further information.
Retrofit of Pier Impact Damage using CatStrong UCF and TCF
A semi tractor-trailer truck traveling south on William H. Natcher Parkway veered off the road and impacted a pier-column of the overpass bridge on Elrod Road in Warren County, KY. A rapid solution was required due to the approaching winter weather so KTC recommended the use of CatStrong Uniaxial and Triaxial Carbon Fabric (UCF and TCF) to retrofit the impacted bridge pier-column and pier cap. KYTC completed the work within six days and the bridge remained open to vehicle travel during the repair work.
Additional Research
- Rapid Retrofit & Strengthening of Bridge Components
- Bridge Load Testing and Bridge Load Rating
- Rapid Repair of Bridge Decks in Cold Weather
- Load Rating of Bridge Size Culverts
- Seismic Vulnerability Appraisal of Bridges in Kentucky for Compliance With FHWA’s 2022 Specifications (in Progress)
- Truss Bridge Rehabilitation Prioritization
- Bridge Load Posting Based on Load Testing
- Rapid Pothole Repair in Concrete Bridge Decks
Structures Faculty & Staff