University of Florida Civil and Coastal Engineering Structures Research Report 2006/26868 Final Report March 2006 Barge Impact Testing of the St. George Island Causeway Bridge Phase III : Physical Testing and Data Interpretation Principal investigators: Gary R. Consolazio, Ph.D. Ronald A. Cook, Ph.D., P.E. Michael C. McVay, Ph.D. Graduate research assistants: David Cowan Alex Biggs Long Bui Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering University of Florida P.O. Box 116580 Gainesville, Florida 32611 Sponsor: Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Henry T. Bollmann, P.E. – Project manager University of Florida University of Florida Civil and Coastal Engineering Contract: UF Project No. 00026868 (4504961) FDOT Contract No. BC-354 RPWO 76 DISCLAIMER The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the State of Florida Department of Transportation. ii Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. BC-354 RPWO-76 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date March 2006 Barge Impact Testing of the St. George Island Causeway Bridge 6. Performing Organization Code Phase III : Physical Testing and Data Interpretation 8. Performing Organization Report No. 7. Author(s) G. R. Consolazio, R. A. Cook, M.C. McVay 2006/26868 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) University of Florida Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering 11. Contract or Grant No. P.O. Box 116580 BC-354 RPWO-76 Gainesville, FL 32611-6580 13. Type of Report and Period Covered 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Florida Department of Transportation Final Report Research Management Center 605 Suwannee Street, MS 30 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Tallahassee, FL 32301-8064 15. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstract This report describes a research study undertaken to quantify and characterize impact loads that are imparted to bridge piers during barge- pier collision events. Because bridges that span over navigable waterways are at risk for such collisions, they must be designed to successfully resist potential barge impact loads. However, few experimental studies have ever been conducted to quantify the magnitude or dynamic nature of such loads. Barge-impact provisions included in the current AASHTO bridge design specifications are based on limited experimental data that were generated using reduced scale (~1:5) pendulum hammer impact tests. The study described in this report utilized a combination of full-scale experimental barge impact testing and state-of-the-art numerical analysis to quantify impact loads, pier responses, and soil responses during barge-pier collisions. Specifically, in April 2004, a series of fifteen full-scale experimental barge impact tests were conducted on the old—now replaced and demolished—St. George Island Causeway Bridge (Bryant Patton Bridge). During each impact test, instrumentation (sensor arrays) and high-speed data acquisition systems were used to directly quantify dynamic impact loads and the resulting structure, soil, and barge responses. This report describes in detail the experimental test procedures that were employed and presents the resultant collected data. To compliment the physical testing, numerical finite element analysis (FEA) techniques were also employed to aid in interpretation of experimental test data. Comparisons of measured experimental data to FEA results substantiated the validity of the experimental data, and furthermore, provided additional insights into the nature of pier response to barge impact loading. Comparisons between experimentally measured data, analytically predicted data, and the AASHTO bridge design provisions are also presented in this report and recommendations are given with regard to the development of improved barge impact design provisions. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Vessel, barge, impact, collision, bridge pier, experimental testing, finite element analysis, soil-structure interaction, bridge design No restrictions. specifications 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 240 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72). Reproduction of completed page authorized iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for providing the funding that made this research project possible. The authors are also pleased to acknowledge and thank a significant number of individuals, agencies, and companies that contributed suggestions, assistance, and materials toward the successful execution of this project. FDOT Structures Research Laboratory personnel (Marc Ansley, David Allen, Frank Cobb, Steve Eudy, Tony Johnston, Paul Tighe) provided expertise and suggestions regarding instrumentation and data acquisition systems; fabricated, tested, and transported load- measurement impact blocks; provided a snooper truck to facilitate field installation of sensors; performed field extraction of concrete core samples; and made numerous additional contributions. Boh Bros. Construction Co. (in particular, Al Flettrich, Sonny Henley, and Scott Gros) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana provided logistical expertise, insight, and advice as well as a host of physical services (push-boat operation, crane operation, barge rental, etc.) that were critically important to the successful execution of this project. The contributions of both the FDOT Structures Research Laboratory and Boh Bros. Construction are gratefully acknowledged. The authors wish to thank Henry Bollmann (FDOT) for initiating—jointly with Marc Ansley—the concept that became this project; providing valuable insights and suggestions, particularly from the point of view of an experienced bridge designer; and carefully reviewing the research findings. The authors thank Benjamin Lehr for important contributions made during an earlier research project that eventually led to the present project. The authors thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for contributing valuable suggestions regarding instrumentation strategies for full-scale barge impact testing (Robert Patev and Bruce Barker) and discussions of barge impact analysis and design practices (Dr. Robert Ebeling). Donations of welded wire fabric sheets by Ivy Steel and Wire of Jacksonville, Florida, are gratefully acknowledged. Finally, the authors thank Chris Ferraro (University of Florida) for conducting material tests on concrete core samples. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Motivation and research need ....................................................................................................1 1.3 Objectives ..................................................................................................................................4 1.4 Scope of work ............................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 2 : BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................7 2.1 Vessel-bridge collision incidents ...............................................................................................7 2.2 Review of experimental vessel impact tests ..............................................................................9 2.3 Design of bridges according to the AASHTO barge impact provisions..................................13 CHAPTER 3 : TEST SITE DESCRIPTION .................................................................................17 3.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................17 3.2 Descriptions of instrumented piers ..........................................................................................21 3.3 Description of bridge superstructure........................................................................................24 3.4 Structural material properties...................................................................................................25 3.5 Soil conditions at Pier-1 and Pier-3 .........................................................................................25 CHAPTER 4 : BARGE AND PUSH BOAT DESCRIPTIONS....................................................28 4.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................28 4.2 Description of the test barge ....................................................................................................28 4.3 Descriptions of pushboats........................................................................................................29 4.4 Barge payload conditions.........................................................................................................29 4.5 Barge draft conditions and weight determination....................................................................33 4.6 Measurement of inelastic barge deformation (pre- and post-test) ...........................................35 CHAPTER 5 : TEST PROGRAM OVERVIEW...........................................................................38 5.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................38