Boring but informative post of the day

[zombiekiller]

I recall that there was some siesmic activity in your current locale from a few years back, and possibly due to fracking. With those feet going down to bedrock, what level of earthquake activity can the design withstand? Magnitude 3, 4, or more?

Haha, no idea.

 

[swerve]

I wouldn't be able to contain myself if I had your job.

I would CONSTANTLY be asking the machine operators if they could let me operate the machinery for JUST A LITTLE BIT!!!

It seems like they get to have SO MUCH FUN!!!

 

[zombiekiller]

In my previous posts, I talked about a footing that transfers the load of the weight of the bridge into the bedrock below. But what happens if there isn't a bedrock for us to transfer the load to?

Without a solid foundation like massive bedrock formations underneath, the entire structure would sink over a very short time.

To counter this, we put down piles. The piles are there to transfer the load of the entire structure down to tougher soil and the rock strata deep down. They also provide extra stability underneath the footings with friction.

Here is what the piles we use look like.

After they are driven deep down (20-30 feet, depending on where), here is what they look like.

We then build footings over them. Notice the red arrow.

 

[NotHardUp1]

I can't believe you're putting all this on the internet where the terrorists can get it and figure out how to make decent bridges.

You left out the bit where they set up the pile driver and bang away on those I-beams for days on end, driving anyone working nearby insane.

 

[zombiekiller]

I can't believe you're putting all this on the internet where the terrorists can get it and figure out how to make decent bridges.

You left out the bit where they set up the pile driver and bang away on those I-beams for days on end, driving anyone working nearby insane.

Haha, why do you think I do not have pictures of them driving those piles in?

 

[zombiekiller]

For this post to make sense, go back to post 38 and read the explanation regarding the footing transferring the bridge's load into the bedrock below.

It is now finally warm enough for us to continue working on the essential stuff. Before today, it's been in the teens. Today, it actually got up as high as 68 degrees woohoo!

So, my guys were able to assemble the re-bars for the columns that are directly on top of one of the footings.

The forms are then placed over the re-bars.

Tomorrow, we will pour concrete into those forms

 

[Columboy]

I took a couple of bricks home today as souvenir. Add to my collection of random stuff that's been buried for decades.

Many here in Columbus are brick covered. Many people like the bricks. The curbs are local mined Granite and retain Character over the years. Do not remove our bricks for anything. There is nothing worse that parts of a brick road patched with cement or asphalt. Ohio Route 3 pot hole repair showed brick under the 8 inches of asphalt.

 

[zombiekiller]

So, last time I talked about forming and pouring those concrete columns. Now, here is the resulting columns.

After the columns are fully cured and the breaks of the test cylinders show the strength that we want, the crew then form a working platform a cage of rebars and put on top of the columns to cap off the columns. We call it a bent.

Here's me on top of the platform inspecting their work before I give the approval to continue.

On this project, we are building 3 brand new bridges and expanding 4 existing bridges. This is a major interchange that has a lot of traffic, particularly commercial traffic, connecting the western states and the midwest.

Anyway, to expand a bridge, we would demolish the sides of each bridge, add columns on either side, put beams on them, and building more to the bridge. To give you an idea, here is a picture showing the work that's done so far on one of the bridges we are expanding. The red arrows point to the sites where the columns will be built on this side of the bridge to make it wider.

 

[FPNY]

and I thought I was butch...

 

[zombiekiller]

and I thought I was butch...

Huh?




...................

 

[zombiekiller]

Well, rainy season came. And here in NW Arkansas, that means a lot of water coming down on us. We have even had a couple tornado touchdowns. Because the entire site sits on a lot of red clay, water doesn't really drain that well after a big rain. Work has been crawling along.

Finally got the columns and caps up for 3 bents.

This was after several delays due to weather conditions and surveyor mistakes.

Here is what most people don't realize. When we are finally ready to put the beams across to build the bridge deck on top of them, the beams have to be anchored down to the beam seats with anchor bolts. The anchor bolts had to be placed in the concrete when the guys poured the concrete. Everything have to be put in place at the exact locations according to plan. In this case, a few inches left or right will be a pain in the ass to fix later on.

See where the red arrows are pointing? That's an anchor bolt.

Now, they have to be aligned perfectly with their counterparts in the other bents.

A lot of pressure on the surveyors LOL.

Before one of the pours of the cap, the pour was delayed by 8 hours. Yes, 8 hours. Surveyors moved the anchor bolts. Then they came back and moved them back to where they were. Then an hour later, they thought they were wrong and moved them again. Went back and forth until they checked it 3 times and got the same numbers each time.

We will know for sure if we actually got it right or not when we try to put the beams into place

In the mean time, my crews are erecting new barrier walls left and right. They're beautiful!

 

[zombiekiller]

Oh, and here is me taking a selfie with my apprentice right behind. We treat her like gold. We don't get that many female engineers, especially in the construction department. My guys are pouring concrete to build a barrier wall in the background.

 

[pat grimshaw]

I enjoyed hearing about those temporary soil retention walls.

I mentioned we've got some metal walls like these on riverbanks which would be over 50 years but they are rusting and the authorities say they will rust until they fall away.

 

[zombiekiller]

I enjoyed hearing about those temporary soil retention walls.

I mentioned we've got some metal walls like these on riverbanks which would be over 50 years but they are rusting and the authorities say they will rust until they fall away.

Someone forgot to take them out. Unfortunately, in this day and age nobody wants to take responsibility for anything.

 

[PalacePaul]

121 years ago Austrian composer Anton Bruckner died in Vienna
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Bruckner