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The document discusses the importance of adhering to various design standards, particularly the AASHTO Specification, in the context of highway bridge structures. It emphasizes that while design manuals provide useful information, bridge engineers must apply AASHTO codes and exercise professional judgment in their designs. The text also highlights the unique challenges in bridge engineering, as each project may present different design problems that require careful consideration of boundary conditions and specifications.

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7 views

wew

The document discusses the importance of adhering to various design standards, particularly the AASHTO Specification, in the context of highway bridge structures. It emphasizes that while design manuals provide useful information, bridge engineers must apply AASHTO codes and exercise professional judgment in their designs. The text also highlights the unique challenges in bridge engineering, as each project may present different design problems that require careful consideration of boundary conditions and specifications.

Uploaded by

Fakhere Alam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Beginning the Project

Use of Design Standards TYPES OF DESIGN STANDARDS 45


[2.2.3]

published by the American Institute of Timber Construction (AITC) and


the National Design Specification for Wood Construction [Ref. 2.18] issued by the
American Wood Council (AWC).

It is important to note that, although these manuals offer information


specific to various design materials, the AASHTO Specification still provides
its own interpretation and guidelines for the use of the material in highway
bridge structures. For example, an entire section of the AASHTO Standard
Specifications discusses the use of timber in highway bridges. While this does
not imply that bridge designers need only reference the AASHTO Specifica-
tions, it should alert the reader to make sure that all possible standards have
been investigated and the most reasonable specifications applied to the design
at hand. Normally, AASHTO specifications adopt the same design philoso-
phies as those manuals, but AASHTO takes a more conservative approach so
it may not necessarily use the identical equations as in these material design
manuals.
One has to keep in mind that these material-related codes mostly deal with
building structural design, therefore, they can only be used as references and
background information. Bridge engineers should always apply AASHTO
Code for the design.

2.2.3 Use of Design Standards

It does not take one long to reach the disclaimer in a set of design
standards like those listed above. Sometimes this disclaimer can be found in
the preface, where it says something like, “While these data have been
prepared in accordance with recognized engineering principles and are based
on the most accurate and reliable technical data available, they should not be
used or relied upon for any general or specific application without competent
professional examination and verification ...” [Ref. 2.17].
While, in a way, this may frustrate an engineer looking for the answer in a
reference, it should also serve as a signal for the responsibility the engineer
carries in any design. Salmon and Johnson’s quote at the beginning of this
section illustrates the point quite nicely. Design specifications are essential tools
which the bridge engineer uses in cobbling together a design, but by no means
do they offer a uniform template for punching out final contract documents.
In this text we will look at several basic design examples which act as an
excellent guide through the design process. These examples, however, cannot
possibly cover every aspect of design which an engineer will encounter. In one
sense, this is what makes bridge engineering so challenging. Even a set of
structures in the same contract submission will offer distinctly different design
problems for each bridge.
One bridge may have footings on rock, while another requires piles. A
structure on a straight alignment leading into another on a horizontal curve can
make a world of difference between two apparently identical structures only a
few hundred feet apart. The design should define the boundary conditions and T he design should define the
boundary conditions and the
specifications should apply to
the specifications should apply to those constraints, not the other way around.
The bridge engineer should also think to question and improve upon those constraints, not the other
reference design material whenever possible. This does not mean that one way around.
should begin to question things like the HS20-44 design vehicle, but items like

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