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(dynamic music)
(logo whooshing)

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- [Narrator] Sometimes,
interventions intended to make

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bridges safer and passable,

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like the use of deicing
chemicals in the winter,

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can contribute to increased corrosion

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of bridge structural components.

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The Center for Transportation Research

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at the University of Texas in Austin

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assessed the use of integral

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and semi-integral bridge abutments,

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which are popular nationwide,

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due to the reduced installation time,

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and the reported decreased maintenance

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and repair costs associated with

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bridge deck joints and bearings.

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- The conventional bridges have joints.

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These joints are very
expensive to maintain.

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And they are particularly
problematic when we use deicing.

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And this causes significant deterioration,

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and maintenance problems.

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So, one solution is, let's
get rid of the joints.

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So that's what this project does.

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It essentially evaluates a type of bridge

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that is very good for
maintenance purposes,

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no joints, but this has
geotechnical implications

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that we need to take care of.

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- The research is in two parts.

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The first part was done in the laboratory.

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It was done at the
University of Texas Austin

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Research Laboratory, where
we had to do the mini scale

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of the bridge to test all the parameters.

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And upon completion of that,

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those parameters were
implemented on an actual bridge

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to evaluate and to see how things

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that were done in the laboratory,

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how they perform on the
real-life bridge project.

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- TxDOT constructed semi integral bridges.

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These were in Wichita Falls.

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Essentially, there were many instruments

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and sensors placed in
these different components

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of the bridge, in the bridge
deck, in the bridge abutment,

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in the foundation that
there were drill shafts.

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So they were all instrumented.

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And we're able to track versus time

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and changes in temperature,

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what are the lateral movements?

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What are the forces or stresses

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acting on the different components?

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What are the strains?

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And we have long records,
a huge volume of data

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on how the different components
of semi-integral bridges

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behave with the passage of time,

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and with the changes in temperature

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- [Niyi] Based on the research outcomes,

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we found that this research
can solve major problem

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due to corrosion that
deteriorated the bridge faster,

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and can also reduce the
cost of maintenance.

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- In this case, there
were very good reasons,

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particularly where the climate
is comparatively colder,

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to get rid of those joints.

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That will decrease
potentially significantly

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maintenance costs.

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This project made that possible.

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It gave us the design parameters,
the loads, the performance

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that we need to know
about this new technology

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in order for us to optimize the design

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of the future bridges.

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And this is being built right now

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in several districts in Texas.

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- [Narrator] For more information,

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and to find the publications
for this project,

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please visit the TxDOT Research Library

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at the link shown below.