Bridge Element Inspection

Guide Manual Introduction

Mike Johnson and Paul Jensen

2010 Pontis User Training

Newport Rhode Island

September 2010

Update Team Composition

• AASHTO T-18 Members

• BridgeWare Task Force members

• Federal Highway Administration

• Federal Lands

• Local Agency Representative

• AASHTO Representative

• State DOT Representatives

Significant Changes

• Four condition states for all elements.

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

• Wearing surfaces separated from deck element.

– Deck element units changed to square feet.

• Steel protective coatings separated from steel.

• All smart flags have been incorporated into condition state language.

• New elements for timber trestle and framed/built up tower supports.

Element Types

• National Bridge Elements (NBE’s)

– Provide the minimum element set to define safety

and load capacity of bridges.

– Includes all primary structural elements.

• Decks, Slabs, Girders, Columns, Rails, Abutments etc.

– Condition state language is not editable.

– Elements intended for NBI condition assessment.

– Minimal implementation level for non-element

inspection agencies.

Element Types

• Bridge Management Elements (BME’s)

– Elements define secondary bridge components.

• Joints, wearing surfaces, protective coatings, etc.

– Provide an added level of condition assessment

for agencies utilizing bridge management

systems.

– Can be extended to capture other components

as desired by the agency.

– Can influence deterioration modeling.

Element Types

• Agency Developed Elements

– Supports agency developed elements.

– Require fours states following general definition.

– May be sub-sets of NBE’s or BME’s.

• Sub-sets of NBE’s require same condition state language.

• Can be sub-sets of BME’s.

– May be unrelated to any defined element.

– May be subject to deterioration modeling or not.

– Allows the incorporation of non-bridge assets.

Element

Presentation

Element Presentation

Existing Single Path Model

Painted Steel Girder

50 Feet

4 F

eet

Length = 50 ft

Area = 200 sq ft

Paint – Freckled Rust

Outside, Inside Good

Fatigue

Crack

Section

Loss

Element Quantity State 1 State 2 State 3 State 4 State 5

Painted Steel Girder 50 Ft 50 ft

Steel Fatigue 1 EA 1 EA

Section Loss 1 EA 1 EA

Multi-Path Example

Painted Steel Girder

50 Feet

4 F

eet

Length = 50 ft

Area = 200 sq ft

Paint – Freckled Rust

Outside, Inside Good

Fatigue

Crack

Section

Loss

Element Quantity State 1 State 2 State 3 State 4

Steel Girder 50 Ft 48 ft 1 ft 1 ft

Multi-Path Example

Painted Steel Girder

50 Feet

4 F

eet

Length = 50 ft

Area = 200 sq ft

Paint – Freckled Rust

Outside, Inside Good

Fatigue

Crack

Section

Loss

Element Quantity State 1 State 2 State 3 State 4

Steel Girder 50 ft 48 ft 1 ft 1 ft

Fatigue Flag (girder) 1 ft 1 ft

Multi-Path Example

Painted Steel Girder

50 Feet

4 F

eet

Length = 50 ft

Area = 200 sq ft

Paint – Freckled Rust

Outside, Inside Good

Fatigue

Crack

Section

Loss

Element Quantity State 1 State 2 State 3 State 4

Steel Girder 50 ft 48 ft 1 ft 1 ft

Fatigue Flag (girder) 1 ft 1 ft

Section Loss Flag (girder) 1 ft 1 ft

Multi-Path Example

Painted Steel Girder

50 Feet

4 F

eet

Length = 50 ft

Area = 200 sq ft

Paint – Freckled Rust

Outside, Inside Good

Fatigue

Crack

Section

Loss

Element Quantity State 1 State 2 State 3 State 4

Painted Steel Girder 50 Ft 48 ft 1 ft 1 ft

Fatigue Flag 1 ft 1 ft

Section Loss Flag 1 ft 1 ft

Coating System 400 sq ft 200 sq ft 196 sq ft 4 sq ft

NBE

BME

Method Comparison

Element Quantity State 1 State 2 State 3 State 4

Painted Steel Girder 50 Ft 48 ft 1 ft 1 ft

Fatigue Flag (girder) 1 ft 1 ft

Section Loss Flag (girder) 1 ft 1 ft

Coating System 400 sq ft 200 sq ft 196 sq ft 4 sq ft

Element Quantity State 1 State 2 State 3 State 4 State 5

Painted Steel Girder 50 Ft 50 ft

Steel Fatigue (global) 1 EA 1 EA

Section Loss (global) 1 EA 1 EA

Current Element

New Element

Element Inspection Examples

• Included In The Manual

– Timber Single Span

– Prestress AASHTO Girder

– Painted Steel Truss

• Examples Depict

– NBE Element List

– NBE and BME Element List

• Shows Coding Example of Common Bridge Type

Example

Element

Number

Element

Description

Unit of

Measure

Total

Quantity

Condition

State 1

Condition

State 2

Condition

State 3

Condition

State 4

31 Timber Deck Sq Ft

(sq m)

2,400 100% 0% 0% 0%

111 Timber

Girder/Beam

Feet

(meter)

780 100% 0% 0% 0%

206 Timber

Column/Pile

Extension

Each 15 100% 0% 0% 0%

216 Timber

Abutment

Feet

(meter)

120 100% 0% 0% 0%

235 Timber Pier

Cap

Feet

(meter)

120 100% 0% 0% 0%

Element

Number

Element

Description

Unit of

Measure

Total

Quantity

Condition

State 1

Condition

State 2

Condition

State 3

Condition

State 4

31 Timber Deck Sq Ft

(sq m)

2,400 100% 0% 0% 0%

111 Timber

Girder/Beam

Feet

(meter)

780 100% 0% 0% 0%

206 Timber

Column/Pile

Extension

Each 15 100% 0% 0% 0%

216 Timber

Abutment

Feet

(meter)

120 100% 0% 0% 0%

235 Timber Pier

Cap

Feet

(meter)

120 100% 0% 0% 0%

510 Wearing Surfaces

Sq Ft

(sq m)

2,400 100% 0% 0% 0%

332 Timber Bridge Railing

Feet

(meter)

120 100% 0% 0% 0%

Element Migration

• Why Migrate Existing Data– Over 10 years of Data

– Basis for Agency Program Analysis and Development

• A Lot Of Pages, Single Methodology

• Division of CoRe Language Into Structural and Other Elements

• Reduce or Add States from CoRe Guide– Three state elements into four state elements

– Five state elements into four state elements

Migration Mythology

• Match Like element groups

• Core That Have Protective Systems, Split

Into Two Elements

• Migration Works From The Worst

Condition To Best Condition

• Change in Condition Language

• Apply Existing Smart Flags As Appropriate

Division of CoRe to NBE/BME

• Structural

• Protective

• Smart Flag (Defect Flag)

• Example– Painted Steel Open Girder (CoRe)

– Steel Girder (NBE)

– Steel Protective Coating (BME)

– Smart Flag Bridge Level (CoRe)

– Smart Flag Element Level (BME)

Application Of Condition Ratings

• Apply from Worst to Best

• Match Existing Condition Language To

New Condition Language

• Apply Smart Flag as CoRe Described or all

in one state

Simple Example From Manual

Concrete Decks/Slab

Condition

State 1

No Defects

Condition

State 2

0-10%

Spall/Delam

Condition

State 3

10-25%

Spall/Delam

Condition

State 4

25-50%

Spall/Delam

Condition

State 5

More than

50%

Spall/Delam

CoRe

Elements12,26,27,38,52,53

Condition

State 1

No Defects

Condition

State 2

Spall/Delam

Condition

State 3

Spall/Delam

With

Exposed Bar

Condition

State 4

Load

Deficent

National Element

12/38

Place Amount into Condition 2

Default Max from CoRE State

Element Number CS 1 CS 2 CS 3 CS 4 CS 5

12,26,27,38,52,53 0 0 0 0 100

Element Number CS 1 CS 2 CS 3 CS 4

12,38 0 100 0 0

Existing Deck/Slab Elements

New NBE Element

Complex Example From Manual

Concrete Decks/SlabCondition

State 1

No Defects

Condition

State 2

0-10%

Defects

Condition

State 3

10-25%

Defects

Condition

State 4

25-50%

Defects

Condition

State 5

More than

50%

Defects

CoRe

Elements13,14,18,22

39,40,44,48

Condition

State 2

Cracking

Size and

Density

Fair

Condition

Condition

State 3

Cracking

Size and

Density

Limited

Effectiveness

Condition

State 4

No Longer

Effective

National Element

12,38

Concrete Deck

Place Amount into Condition 2

Default Max from CoRE State

CoRe

Smart Flag 358Cracking

CoRe

Smart Flag 359Soffet

Condition

State 1

Repaired

Condition

State 2

moderate

size or

density

Condition

State 3

moderate

size and

density

Condition

State 4

Sever size

and densityPlace 100% of element into

mapped Condition State

Place Max smart flag

percentage of the of element

into mapped Condition State

Condition

State 1

Repaired

Condition

State 2

0-2%

Distress

Condition

State 3

2 to 10%

Distress

Rust Stain

Condition

State 4

10 to 25%

Distress

Rust Stain

Condition

State 5

10 to 25%

Distress

Rust Stain

Bridge Management Element

510Wearing Surface

Bridge Management Element

Smart Flag 359Concrete Cracking

Bridge Management Element

Smart Flag 359Concrete Efflorescence

Condition

State 1

No Defects

Condition

State 2

Moderate

Cracking

Size and/or

Density

Efflorescence

moderate

without stain

Spall/Delam

Condition

State 3

Severe

Cracking

Size and

Density

Efflorescence

moderate

without stain

Spall/Delam

With

Exposed Bar

Condition

State 4

Load

Deficient

Condition

State 2

moderate

size or

density

Condition

State 3

severe size

and/or

density

Condition

State 1

No Defects

Condition

State 2

moderate

without rust

staining

Condition

State 3

Severe with

rust staining

ElementNumber

CS 1 CS 2 CS 3 CS 4 CS 5

13,14,18,2239,40,44,48

0 0 100 0 0

358(cracking)

0 0 1 ea 0 X

359 (soffit) 0 0 0 1 ea 0

Existing Deck/Slab Elements

Element Number CS 1 CS 2 CS 3 CS 4

12,38 (NBE) 25 50 25 0

358 Cracking (BME) Associated with

Element 12,38

X

359 Soffit (BME) Associated with

Element 12,38

X

510 Wearing (BME) 50 50 0 0

Element Migration

• Working to develop a “Migrator” utility that will convert CoRe Elements to new elements.

• Task Force envisions parallel database tables to store old and new elements.

• Old elements will be read only in Pontis 5.2.

• Pontis 5.2 modeling will use new elements only.

• Continue to work with FHWA, T-18 to implement new elements & develop training

Summary

• Goal is to improve the elements and have them drive decision making.

• Element changes

– Four condition states across the board.

– Decks/slabs to square units.

– Wearing surfaces and coatings as elements with square area units.

– Smart flags at element level.

– Multi-path condition states and BMS models.

Questions and Answers

Why change the elements?

• Fully capture all condition defects on the bridges.

• Provide the means for national decision making based on consistent detailed bridge condition information.

• Eliminate the need to translate and synthesize element data for the C&P report.

• Improve the deck and slab language to capture structural capacity and defects of these high maintenance items.

• Separate wearing surfaces and protective coatings out for management of these protection systems.

Questions and Answers

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.

Questions and Answers

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.

Questions and Answers

Will the element translator work with the new elements?

• The new elements are designed to be directly reported

to the NBI eliminating the need for translation.

• If the translator is required as an interim measure, the

program would need to be recalibrated.

Questions and Answers

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.