Cracked girders

• Published in: Public Roads Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 12 - 15
• Main Authors: TELANG, Niket M, MEHRABI, Armin B
• Format: Magazine Article Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC US Department of Transportation 01-11-2003; Superintendent of Documents
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bridges; Building failures (cracks, physical changes, etc.); Buildings. Public works; Case studies; Concrete bridges; Durability. Pathology. Repairing. Maintenance; Exact sciences and technology; Failure; Public works; Railroad accidents & safety; United States; North America; Washington; America; Washington DC; Failure analysis; Concrete construction; Cracking; Inspection; Prestressed concrete; Rehabilitation; Fatigue crack; Road bridge
• ISSN: 0033-3735; 2169-1800

Five years ago, a flurry of activity followed the discovery of unexpected cracking in the prestressed girders of the Francis Case Memorial Bridge, an arterial structure spanning the Washington Channel of the Potomac River, in the heart of the Nation's capital. To ensure the safety of the traveling public, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DCDOT) with the assistance of the Federal Highway Administration (FHIXTA) immediately began stabilizing the cracked girders and initiated an indepth investigation to ascertain the cause, prognosis, and whether the structure could be repaired. The Francis Case Memorial Bridge carries eight lanes of 1-395 traffic over one channel of the Potomac River in Washington, DC, connecting the downtown with Potomac Park. An extensive rehabilitation program undertaken in 1994 resulted in replacement of the approach spans of the original bridge with precast prestressed concrete girders made continuous at the piers.