White Papers
AISC/PCI Quality Systems White Paper
This white paper identifies 12 characteristics essential to any organization offering construction industry certification.
Read more...
A primer on weathering steel
By Bill McEleney, Director, National Steel Bridge Alliance
THE AVAILABILITY of high performance steel (HPS) with 70 ksi yield strength, ASTM A709, Grade HPS-70W, has sparked renewed interest in weathering steel within the bridge marketplace. The new HPS material has weathering characteristics that are an incremental improvement over the Grade 50W material used to date. In general, weathering steels contain small amounts of copper, phosphorus, chromium, nickel, and silicon to attain their weathering properties.
Read more...
Advances in high performance steels for highway bridges
By Alexander D. Wilson, Manager, Customer Technical Service, Mittal Steel USA
THE DEVELOPMENT and deployment of High Performance Steel (HPS) for highway bridges originated with a joint effort of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Navy, and the American Iron & Steel Institute in 1992. This collaboration acted to develop an affordable steel grade with higher strength, improved weldability, and greater toughness while enhancing overall quality and ease of fabrication. The effort was a resounding success. More than 200 HPS bridges now carry traffic in 43 states.
Read more...
Advantages of steel over concrete for bridge design and construction
FIRST cost, life-cycle costs, and environmental effects favor steel as the material of choice for bridges. Aesthetics may also become a factor when the local communities get a chance to weigh in on the material choice, sometimes overruling costs.
Read more...
Bearings for Steel Bridges
Bridge Crossings no. 7, Jun 97
Read more...
Bridge Fatigue Myths
Bridge Crossings no. 4, Feb 97
Read more...
Design Aids for Efficient Short Span Steel Bridges
Bridge Crossings no. 2, Dec 96
Read more...
Erection Engineering for Steel Bridge Superstructures
Bridge Crossings no. 11, Oct 97
Read more...
High Performance Steel Bridge Concepts
Bridge Crossings no. 14, Apr 99
Read more...
High Performance Steel: Design and Cost Comparisons
Bridge Crossings no. 16, Jun 00
Read more...
Improving Shop Details
Bridge Crossings no. 3, Jan 97
Read more...
Integral Post-Tensioned Concrete Bent Caps
Bridge Crossings no. 8, Jul 97
Read more...
LFD vs. LRFD - What's Up With the Letter 'R' Anyway?
Bridge Crossings no. 5, Mar 97
Read more...
Nebraska's Three-Phase High Performance Steel Bridge Initiative
Bridge Crossings no. 15, Oct 99
Read more...
Reducing time for steel bridge construction
AMERICA’S aging and deteriorating highway infrastructure sees ongoing significant increases in traffic. The resulting congestion reduces economic efficiency, increasing the costs of goods and services. Constructing and maintaining roads and bridges often disrupts local economies to an extent that overshadows the cost of the construction itself.
Read more...
Steel: the environment’s friend for bridge construction
STEEL has several qualities for bridge construction that benefit the environment. For one, it’s the most recycled material in the world. Compared to concrete, its high strength permits longer spans, minimizing disruption to underlying habitats. Similarly, its light weight speeds construction and permits use of smaller-scale equipment at the construction site. Weathering steel avoids the need for painting, minimizing the emission of volatile organic compounds and reducing maintenance costs. Taken together, these qualities make steel the more environmentally friendly choice for bridge construction.
Read more...
Steel Bridge Construction: Myths & Realities (AISI D432-07)
This booklet is an updated and expanded version of the original document published in the mid-90s. Its purpose is to dispel some of the “myths” or misconceptions surrounding the use of steel in bridge construction. These myths often arise out of past experience and don’t take into account changes in technology, improvements in materials and products or updated design and construction practices.
Read more..
The Foundation of Great Steel Bridge Designs
Bridge Crossings no. 13, Jan 98
Read more...
The Same Old Grind… An Investigation of Zinc-Rich Primer Performance Over Steel Corners
Bridge Crossings no. 17, Jun 00
Read more...
Tips to Insure Successful Use of Weathering Steel for Bridges
Bridge Crossings no. 1, Nov 96
Read more...
Transportation Issues in Steel Bridge Erection
Bridge Crossings no. 10, Sep 97
Read more...
Twelve Commandments for Economic Steel Box Girders
Bridge Crossings no. 9, Aug 97
Read more...
Welds Decking Expands Bridge Options
Bridge Crossings no. 12, Nov 97
Read more...
Why Steel Box Girders?
Bridge Crossings no. 6, Apr 97
Read more...
Wider Girder Spacings
Bridge Crossings no. 18, Apr 01
Read more...