Work-Bridge Design and Sequence of Construction

VDOT L19 Shenandoah County

Created: 05/31/17 by Tom Lever

Updated: 07/12/17 by Tom Lever

Purpose

Design a work bridge for VDOT L19 Shenandoah County and check whether the work bridge
accords with the requirements of the VDOT / Fielders Choice Enterprises (FCE) Contract
and the AISC 2016 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.

Aerial Layout of the Work Bridge

Let the work bridge be laid out between the existing bridge and proposed bridge according
to Figure 1. Northwest is to the left; southeast is to the right. Let the largest rectangle
depict the perimeter of the work bridge during Phase 4 of permanent bridge construction.
Let the six narrow rectangles depict abutments and piers. Let the X represent the top
surface of the work pad during Phase 4 of permanent bridge construction. During Phase 2
the work pad will include the green trapezoid. During Phase 3 the work pad will include
the blue trapezoid. Let the dotted lines represent the perimeters of the Phase-2 and Phase-3
cofferdams.

Figure 1: Aerial Work-Bridge Layout

1
Let W be the width of the work bridge. W = 20 f t.

Components of the Work Bridge

The work bridge will consist of:

1. Sandbag abutment and pier footers 0.50 40 200 .

2. Concrete-block abutments and piers 20 20 180 placed according to Figure 1. The

total width of 3 piers per the permit application sketches is 12.552 f t. The total width
of 4 piers per Figure 1 is 8 f t. The total cross sectional area of four piers per Figure
1 is less than the total cross sectional area of three piers per the permit application
sketches. The piers per Figure 1 will restrict river flow less than the piers per the
permit application sketches.
FCE will install long angle irons on the top edges of abutments and piers. FCE will
install short angle irons along every girder side as straps to link long angle irons.

3. 11 runs of steel-plate girders. Each girder will be 34 f t long, will be 12.06 in tall, and
will have a flange width of 9.995 in. Considering 1 run of girders, 2 girders will be placed
on the northwest side of the work pad and 1 girder will be placed on the southeast side
of the work pad. In total there will be 33 girders. Clamps between tension flanges and
long angle irons will hold girders in place. For the sake of a structural analysis, lets
say that there will be 3 girder-to-angle clamps per half-girder.

4. Crane-mat deck consisting of crane mats 8 40 200 . Clamps between tops of crane
mats and compression flanges will hold deck in place, will brace compression flanges
against lateral displacement, and will brace girders against twist. Crane mats will be
flat and level. For the sake of a structural analysis, lets say that there will be 3 mat-
to-girder clamps per half-girder and the spacing between clamps will be approximately
8.5 f t.

5. Stone work pad 4.83 f t tall. During Phases 2 and 3 of permanent bridge construction
the top surface of the work pad will be T-shaped. The dimensions of the top of the T
will be 560 200 . The dimensions of the stem of the T will be at most 23.5170 50.7920 .
The sides of the work pad will slope away from the top of the work pad at 45-degree
angles.

6. Handrails.

2
Let some of the work bridge be represented in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Some of the Work Bridge

Footprint and Fill Below Ordinary High Water for Footer - Abutment/Pier As-
semblies

The footprint for a sandbag footer is (4 f t) (20 f t) = 80 f t.

The total footprint for 4 sandbag footers is 4 (80 f t) = 320 f t.

While the total footprint for 4 sandbag footers is greater than the maximum total footprint
for all piers in the VDOT / FCE contract, VDOT grants this exception.

Per Lee Llewellyn, FCE Superintendent, the elevation of the top of the work bridge is 588.5 f t
above sea level.

The elevation of the bottom of a concrete-block abutment or pier is (588.5 f t) (8 in)

(12.06 in) (2 f t) = 584.828 f t above sea level.

Per Plan Sheet 1 of 22, the elevation of Ordinary High Water (OHW) is 586.3 f t above sea
level.

The height from the bottom of a concrete-block abutment or pier to OHW is (586.3 f t)
(584.828 f t) = 1.472 f t.

The fill below OHW of each footer is (0.5 f t) (4 f t) (20 f t) = 40 f t3 .

3
The fill below OHW of each concrete-block abutment or pier is (2 f t) (18 f t) (1.472 f t) =
52.992 f t3 .

The fill below OHW of each footer - abutment/pier assembly is 92.992 f t3 = 3.444 yd3 .

The total fill below OHW of 4 footer - abutment/pier assemblies is 4 (3.444 yd3 ) = 13.777 yd3 .

While the total fill below OHW for 4 footer - abutment/pier assemblies is greater than the
maximum total fill for all piers in the VDOT / FCE contract, VDOT grants this exception
given that the total fill for the work pad and 4 footer - abutment/pier assemblies is less than
the maximum total fill for the workpad and all piers in the VDOT / FCE contract. See
Footprint and Fill Below Ordinary High Water for Work Pad for calculations for the fill
of the work pad.

Fill Below Ordinary High Water for Work Pad

Per Autodesk Inventor, the footprint for the work pad is 3, 644.543 f t2 .

While the total footprint for the work pad is greater than the maximum total footprint for
the work pad in the VDOT / FCE contract, VDOT grants this exception.

Per Lee Llewellyn, FCE Superintendent, the average elevation of the top of the stream bed
is 583.67 f t above sea level.

The difference between the elevation of OHW and the average elevation of the top of the
stream bed is 2.63 f t.

Figure 3 depicts the Phase-2 work pad, including the surface of the river. The Phase-2 work
pad has top area depicted in Figure 1, height of 4.83 f t, and slopes of 45 degrees.

Figure 3: Work Pad

Per Autodesk Inventor, the fill below OHW for the work pad is 318.366 yd3 , which is less
than the maximum fill below OHW for the work pad in the VDOT / FCE contract.

4
Sequence of Construction for Permanent and Work Bridges

1. Construct Pier-1 / Abutment-A cofferdam.

2. Construct Pier 1.

3. Remove Pier-1 / Abutment-A cofferdam and construct Abutment-A water barrier.

4. Construct Abutment A.

5. Construct work bridge up to and including Phase-4 work pad.

6. Construct Phase-2 extension of work pad and Pier-2 cofferdam.

7. Construct Pier 2.

8. Remove Pier-2 cofferdam, reconfigure Phase-2 work pad into Phase-3 work pad, and
construct Pier-3 cofferdam.

9. Construct Pier 3.

10. Remove Pier-3 cofferdam.

11. Reconfigure Phase-3 work pad into Phase-4 work pad.

12. Construct remainder of Phase-4 work bridge.

13. Construct Abutment-B cofferdam.

14. Construct Abutment B.

15. Remove Abutment-B cofferdam.

16. Set prestressed concrete voided slabs.

17. Form flanking walkways.

18. Construct bridge deck.

19. Construct concrete railings.

20. Construct bridge approaches.

21. Construct roadway on each side of permanent bridge.

22. Open new roadway and bridge to traffic.

23. Install turbidity curtain downstream of permanent bridge across the full width of the
river.

5
 24. Remove and dispose of center section of existing bridge.

25. Remove temporary work bridge.

26. Remove turbidity curtain.

27. Install turbidity curtain downstream of southeast section of existing bridge in the
neighborhood of that section.

28. Install cofferdam around southeast section of existing bridge.

29. Remove and dispose of southeast section of existing bridge.

30. Remove cofferdam and turbidity curtain.

31. Install turbidity curtain downstream of northwest section of existing bridge in the
neighborhood of that section.

32. Install cofferdam around northwest section of existing bridge.

33. Remove and dispose of northwest section of existing bridge.

34. Remove cofferdam and turbidity curtain.

Layout of the Most Northwesterly Girder-Length Section of the Work Bridge

Let the most northwesterly section of the work bridge that is W wide and that spans between
the ends of one girder be laid out according to Figure 4.

Let n be the number of longitudinal girder runs in the work bridge. n = 11.

Let us assume that each girder will be supported simply at each end and at its midpoint. Let
us assume that we are checking the strength of half (longitudinally) the work-bridge section
depicted above.

Let Lg/2 be the length of a half-girder. Lg/2 = 17 f t.

6
Figure 4: Most northwesterly girder-length section of work bridge. Dimensions are in inches.

Cross Section of One Girder

Let a cross section of a girder be laid out according to Figure 5.

Let us assume that our girders are I-shaped, doubly symmetric, rolled, and manufactured
according to ASTM Internationals A36 standard.

Let E be Youngs modulus for our girders. E = 29, 000 ksi.

Let h be for a girder the height of the web. h = 10.910 in.

Let Wf be for a girder the width of a flange. Wf = 9.995 in.

Let tw be for a girder the thickness of the web. tw = 0.345 in.

Let tf be for a girder the thickness of a flange. tf = 0.575 in.

7
 Figure 5: Girder Cross Section. Dimensions are in inches.

Dead Load for One Half-Girder-Length Section of the Work Bridge

lb
Let v be the weight per unit length of a girder. v = 53 .
ft
Let wg/2 be the weight of a half-girder.

wg/2 = v Lg/2
 
lb
= 53 (17 f t)
ft
= 901 lb

The weight of n half-girders is n wg/2 = (11) (901 lb) = 9911 lb.

Let wcl be the total weight of 3 girder-to-angle clamps and 3 mat-to-girder clamps per half-
girder across n half-girders. wcl 330 lb.

Let us assume that the deck will consist of red-oak crane mats. Each crane mat will contain
steel through-rods.

Let each mat contain five 1-in diameter, 8-f t long through-rods.

Let Vr be the total volume of rods in the mat. Vr = 5 (1/24 f t)2 (4 f t) = 0.109 f t3 .

8
 lb
Let r be the density of steel. Per EngineeringToolbox.com, r = 490.056 .
f t3
Let wr be the total weight of rods in the mat.
wr = Vr r
 
3 lb
= (0.109 f t ) 490.056 3
ft
= 53.416 lb

Let each mat be 8 40 200 .

Let Vw be the total volume of red oak in a mat. Vw = (53.36 f t3 ) (0.109 f t3 ) = 53.251 f t3 .

lb
Let w be the density of red oak. Per EngineeringToolbox.com, w = 45 .
f t3
Let ww be the total weight of red oak in a mat.
ww = Vw w
 
3

lb
= 53.251 f t 45 3
ft
= 2, 396.295 lb

Let wm be the total weight of a crane mat.

wm = wr + ww
= (53.416 lb) + (2, 396.295 lb)
= 2, 449.711 lb

Let wdl be the dead load for a section of the work bridge that is W wide and that spans
between the ends of a half-girder.
 
wm
wdl = n wg/2 + wcl + (17 f t)
4 ft
 
2, 449.711 lb
= (9911 lb) + (330 lb) + (17 f t)
4 ft
= 20, 652.272 lb

9
Weight of a Prestressed Concrete Voided Slab

Per the Erection Diagram for VDOT L19 Shenandoah County (Plan Sheet 11 of 22), the
dimensions for each prestressed concrete voided slab will be either 30 21 420 11.25 or
30 21 420 11.5. Let us assume that the dimensions for each prestressed concrete voided
slab will be 30 21 420 11.5.

Per the VDOT Manual of the Structure and Bridge Division, Part 2, Chapter 12, Prestressed
and Post-Tensioned Concrete, Prestressed Concrete Voided Slabs, Section Properties
lb
and Strand Pattern Layout (p. 44), the weight at 150 3 of a prestressed concrete voided
ft
lb
slab 3-f t wide by 21-in deep is 522 .
ft
The weight of each prestressed concrete voided slab will be 22, 424.250 lb.

Crane Proposal

Let dc be the the maximum horizontal distance a crane must reach. dc = 96.64 f t.

Any crane FCE chooses to employ regarding VDOT L19 Shenandoah County will be able
to hold one of the prestressed concrete voided slabs described above at dc and will have a
total weight per unit length of girder less than that of the following crane.

I Google-d crawler crane. I explored Liebherrs website. I explored technical data for
Telescopic Crawler Crane LTR 1220. Per Telescopic Crawler Crane LTR 1220, Lifting
capacities (p. 17), for a horizontal distance (assuming parallel to the crawlers) of dc from
the longitudinal center of crawlers, a latitudinal distance between outsides of crawlers of
19.3 f t, a 154, 350-lb counterweight, and a 44, 100-lb central ballast, Telescopic Crawler
Crane LTR 1220 has a lifting capacity of 28, 800 lb. The total weight of the crane with
154, 350-lb counterweight, 44, 100-lb central ballast, 3-sheave hook block, and 3.28-f t track
pads is wc = 397, 000 lb. Let us estimate that the longitudinal distance between the centers
of a crawlers sprockets is 24.583 f t.

10
Force on One Girder
g/2
Let wdl be the maximum weight one half-girder must bear of the dead load for a section of
g/2
the
 work bridge
 that is W wide and that spans between the ends of a half-girder. wdl =
25.995 in
wdl = 2, 236.899 lb.
240 in
g/2
Let wc be the maximum weight one half-girder must bear of theweight of the crane. Since
  1
17 f t g/2
the crane crawlers are longer than a half-girder, wlc = 24.583 ft
wc = 24, 958.120 lb.
n

Let Fg/2 be the maximum total force on one girder.

g/2
Fg/2 = wdl + wcg/2
= (2, 236.899 lb) + (24, 958.120 lb)
= 27, 195.019 lb

Let us assume that the dead load is distributed uniformly longitudinally along the half-
g/2
girder. Let us assume that wc is distributed uniformly between the centers of the cranes
crawler sprockets. When the crane is centered over a half-girder section of our work bridge,
g/2
let us assume that wc is distributed uniformly longitudinally along the half-girder.

11
Compact Girder Web

Let Fy be the specified minimum yield stress. Fy = 36 ksi.

Let w be the girder-web height-to-thickness ratio.

h
w =
tw
10.91 in
=
0.345 in
= 31.623

Let p be the girder-web height-to-thickness ratio threshold between the girder being compact
and noncompact. s
E
p = 3.76
Fy
r
(29, 000 ksi
= 3.76
36 ksi
= 106.717

Referencing the AISC 2016 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, per Specification
Table B4.1.b (p. 19), the web of our girder is compact if w < p .

The web of our girder is compact.

Compact Flanges

Let f be the half-flange width-to-thickness ratio.

Wf /2
f =
tf
(9.995 in)/2
=
0.575 in
= 8.691

Let pf be the half-flange width-to-thickness ratio threshold between the flange being com-
pact and noncompact.

12
Per Specification Table B4.1.b (p. 18),
s
E
pf = 0.38
Fy
r
29, 000 ksi
= 0.38
36 ksi
= 10.785

Per Table B4.1.b (p. 18), a flange of our girder is compact if f < pf .

Our girder flanges are compact.

Plastic Moment for Girder Cross Section

Consider the cross section of our girder in Figure 4.

Let the x axis be a horizontal line drawn through the centroid of the section.

Let yw/2 be the vertical distance between the x axis and the centroid of a subsection of the
girder section representing half (hamburger) the web.
h
yw/2 =
4
10.91 in
=
4
= 2.728 in

Let Aw be the area of a subsection of the girder section representing the entire web.
Aw = tw h
= (0.345 in) (10.91 in)
= 3.764 in2

Let Aw/2 be the area of the subsection representing half the web.
Aw
Aw/2 =
2
3.764 in2
=
2
= 1.882 in2

13
Let yf be the vertical distance between the x axis and the centroid of a flange subsection.
h tf
yf = +
2 2
10.91 in 0.575 in
= +
2 2
= 5.743 in

Let Af be the area of a flange subsecton.

Af = tf Wf
= (0.575 in) (9.995 in)
= 5.747 in2

Let yT be the vertical distance between the x axis and the centroid of a subsection of the
girder section consisting of half the web and a flange.
P
[yi Ai ]
yT = P
Ai
yw/2 Aw/2 + yf Af
=
Aw/2 + Af
(2.728 in) (1.882 in2 ) + (5.743 in) (5.747 in2 )
=
(1.882 in2 ) + (5.747 in2 )
= 4.999 in

Let yI be the vertical distance between the centroid of a subsection representing half the
web and the compression flange and the centroid of a subsection representing half the web
and the tension flange.
yI = 2 yT
= 2 (4.999 in)
= 9.997 in

Let Ag be the total area of the cross section of our girder.

Ag = tw h + 2 tf wf
= (0.345 in) (10.91 in) + 2 (0.575 in) (9.995 in)
= 15.259 in2

14
Let Zx be the plastic section modulus of our girder section with respect to the x axis.
Ag
Zx = yI
2
(15.259 in2 )
= (9.997 in)
2
= 76.272 in3

Let Mp be the plastic moment of our girder section with respect to the x axis.

Mp = Fy Zx
= (36 ksi) (76.272 in3 )
= 2, 745.792 in kips
= 228.816 f t kips

Nominal Flexural Strength for Compression-Flange Yielding

Let Mncf y be the nominal flexural strength of our girder for compression-flange yielding.

Per Specification F2.1 (p. 47),

Mncf y = Mp
= 228.816 f t kips

Nominal Flexural Strength for Lateral-Torsional Buckling

Let Lb be the length between points that are either braced against lateral displacement of
the compression flange or braced against twist of the cross section. Lb = 8.5 f t.

Consider the cross section of our girder in Figure 4.

Consider the web subsection of the girder section.

Let the xw axis be a horizontal line drawn through the centroid of the section.

Let the yw axis be a vertical line drawn through the centroid of the section.

15
Let Iyw be the second moment of area of the web subsection about the yw axis.
ZZ
w
Iy = x2w d (Aw )
Aw
Z h/2 Z tw /2
= x2w d (xw ) d (yw )
yw =h/2 xw =tw /2

h/2
t3w
Z
= d (yw )
yw =h/2 12

t3w h
=
12
(0.345 in)3 (10.91 in)
=
12
= 0.037 in3

Let the ycf axis be a vertical line through the centroid of the compression-flange subsection
of the girder section.

Let Iycf be the second moment of area of the compression-flange subsection about the ycf
axis.
cf
Wf3 tf
Iy =
12
(9.995 in)3 (0.575 in)
=
12
= 47.845 in3

Let the ytf axis be a vertical line through the centroid of the tension-flange subsection of the
girder section.

Let Iytf be the second moment of area of the tension-flange subsection about the ytf axis.

Iytf = Iycf

= 47.845 in3

Let the y axis be a vertical line drawn through the centroid of the section.

16
Let Iy be the second moment of area of the girder section about the y axis.
Iy = Iyw + Iycf + Iytf

= 0.037 in3 + 47.845 in3 + 47.845 in3

= 95.727 in3

Let ry be the radius of gyration of the girder section with respect to the y axis.
s
Iy
ry =
Ag
r
95.727 in3
=
15.259 in2
= 2.505 in

Let Lp be the limiting laterally unbraced length for lateral-torsional buckling.

Per Specification F5.2 (p. 48),

s
E
Lp = 1.76 ry
Fy
r
29, 000 ksi
= 1.76 (2.505 in)
36 ksi
= 125.132 in
= 10.428 f t

Per Specification F2.2.a, when Lb Lp , lateral-torsional buckling does not apply.

Lateral-torsional buckling does not apply.

Nominal Flexural Strength of Our Girder

Let Mn be the nominal flexural strength of our girder.

Per Specification F2 (p. 47), Mn shall be the lower value obtained according to the limit
states of compression-flange yeilding and lateral-torsional buckling.
Mn = Mcf y
= 228.816 f t kips

17
Design Flexural Strength of Our Girder

Let b = 0.90.

Let Md be the design flexural strength of our girder.

Per Specification F1 (p. 47),

Md = b Mn
= (0.90) (228.816 f t kips)
= 205.934 f t kips

Nominal Shear Strength of Our Girder

Tension-field action does not apply to our unstiffened girder.

Following Specification G2.1.a (p. 71),

h 10.91 in
=
tw 0.345 in
= 31.623

s r
E 29, 000 ksi
2.24 = 2.24
Fy 36 ksi

= 63.576

s
h E
2.24
tw Fy

V = 1.00

CV 1 = 1.0

Let Vn be the nominal shear strength of our girder.

18
Per Specification G2.1 (p. 70),

Vn = 0.6 Fy Aw CV 1
= 0.6 (36 ksi) (3.764 in2 ) (1.0)
= 81.301 kips

Design Shear Strength of Our Girder

Let Vd be the design shear strength of our girder.

Per Specification G1 (p. 70),

Vd = V Vn
= (1.00) (81.301 kips)
= 81.301 kips

Maximum Shear Force for Our Girder and Accordance with Specification

Consider the side view of a section of our work bridge that has width W and that spans
between the ends of one half-girder. Label one abutment or pier Support A and the other
pier Support B. Let us assume Support A and Support B are simple supports.

For safety, multiply Fg/2 by a factor of 1.5. For determining maximum shear force and
bending moments for our girder, indicate that this force applies downward.


Fg/2 f = 40, 792.529 lb

Let FA be the maximum reaction force of Support A to Fg/2 f .


Let FB be the maximum reaction force of Support B to Fg/2 f .

Let us assume that the loaded crane is longitudinally centered on the section of the work
bridge.

Fg/2 f
FA = FB =
2
(40, 792.529 lb)
=
2
= 20, 396.264 lb

19


Let Vmax be the maximum shear force due to Fg/2 f .

Vmax = FA = FB
= 20, 396.264 lb

Since Vmax < Vd , our work bridge accords with the AISC 2016 Specification for Structural
Steel Buildings for shear strength.

Maximum Bending Moment for Our Girder and Accordance with Specification

Let us think about a graph of Shear Force vs. Position for our half-girder.

Let V be shear force.

Let z be position along the girder from Support A.

Let V0 be shear force at position z = 0 f t.

V (z = 0 f t) = V0
= Vmax
= 20, 396.264 lb

Since we are assuming that Fg/2 is uniformly distributed over the length of the girder, let m
be the slope of the line V (z) between z = 0 and z = Lg/2 .


Fg/2 f
m=
Lg/2
40, 792.529 lb
=
17 f t
lb
= 2, 399.561
ft

V (z) = mz + V0
"
#
Fg/2 f
= z + V0
Lg/2
 
lb
= 2, 399.561 z + (20, 396.264 lb)
ft

20
Let us think about a graph of Bending Moment vs. Position for our half-girder.

Let M be bending moment.

Because the work bridge is static, M (z = 0 f t) = M z = Lg/2 = 0 f t kips.

Let C be a constant.

Z
M (z) = V (z) dz
Z
= mz + V0 dz

m 2
= z + V0 z + C
2

m
M (z = 0 f t) = (0 f t)2 + V0 (0 f t) + C
2
=C
= 0 f t kips

m 2
M (z) = z + V0 z
2

Let Mmax be the maximum bending moment for our girder.

Mmax occurs when the derivative of M (x), which is V (x), is zero.

   
Lg/2 Lg/2
V z= =m + V0
2 2
  
lb 17 f t
= 2, 399.561 + (20, 396.264 lb)
ft 2
= 0 f t kips

21
  
Lg/2
Mmax =M z=
2
 2  
m Lg/2 Lg/2
= + V0
2 2 2
2, 399.561 flbt 17 f t 2
   
17 f t
= + (20, 396.264 lb)
2 2 2
= 86, 684.103 f t lb

Because Mmax < Md , our work bridge accords with the AISC 2016 Specification for Struc-
tural Steel Buildings for flexural strength.

Conclusion

In Work-Bridge Design, we have designed a work bridge for VDOT L19 Shenandoah County
that accords with the requirements of the VDOT / FCE Contract and the AISC 2016
Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.

Notes from Tom Lever on 07/12/17:

After running through a similar check to the check in Work-Bridge Design, I offer that
theoretically, assuming all of the assumptions made in Work-Bridge Design are valid and
all of the calculations are correct, that we could optimize our work bridge by reducing the
number of girder runs to n = 5.

After running through a similar check to the check in Work-Bridge Design with the help of
SkyCiv.com, I offer that theoretically, assuming the entire weight of the loaded crane rests
on one section of the work bridge, that we could optimize our work bridge by reducing the
number of girder runs to n = 7.

After running through a similar check to the check in Work-Bridge Design with the help of
SkyCiv.com, I offer that theoretically, assuming the entire weight of the loaded crane rests
on half a section of the work bridge, that we could optimize our work bridge by reducing the
number of girder runs to n = 8.

22