PFI-TT: Rapid Construction of Resilient Bridges using Modular Design

这个创新伙伴关系-技术转化（PFI-TT）项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发模块化连接技术，用于建设弹性桥梁，提高公共安全，降低建设成本和时间，延长使用寿命。模块化连接技术有潜力取代老化的基础设施，重建受灾害破坏的桥梁，重点是100-400英尺的桥梁。在美国现有的67,824座100-400英尺跨度的桥梁中，23%存在结构缺陷或超过了典型的设计寿命。此外，灾害经常摧毁桥梁，妨碍有效的疏散工作，使流离失所者无法获得食物、水或医疗援助。为了减少灾害后的死亡率和发病率并加快经济复苏，迫切需要重建受损的桥梁。除了满足这些需求外，该项目还将支持两名研究生的创业和创新教育，包括研究和课程，以获得土木工程研究生学位，创业课程，以获得证书，参加I-Corps和实习。扩大代表性不足的群体的参与将通过研究机会和每年为来自多个机构的本科生举办的“INVITE：工程中的创新、技术和商业”研讨会来实现。拟议的项目将推进模块化联合技术的商业化。模块化连接技术是一种设计范式的改变：连接是模块，成员是标准钢截面。该技术利用了模块化（通过大规模生产节省成本/时间）和桁架（高效率、易于设计、寿命长）的优点，同时克服了现有模块化桥梁（跨度有限、销连接不可靠）和传统桁架（制造成本高、施工困难、缺乏安全性）的不足。具体来说，模块化接头由腹板和法兰的焊接件/组合部分组成，其中包括连接构件或其他模块化接头的启动段。法兰和腹板通过螺栓连接独立连接，形成抗力矩连接，为结构提供了承受构件损失的潜力。拟议的转化研究将解决商业化的剩余技术挑战：制造、建造和安全。研究目标包括：(1)在满足结构性能标准的情况下，确定最低制造成本的参数；(2)调查施工程序和安装策略；(3)评估构件损失和疲劳载荷情况下的行为；(4)制定设计细节和指南。研究将通过严格的数值调查进行。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Partnerships for Innovation - Technology Translation (PFI-TT) project is the development of the modular joint technology for the construction of resilient bridges with enhanced public safety, reduced cost and time for construction, and improved lifespan. The modular joint technology has the potential to replace ageing infrastructure and to reconstruct bridges damaged by disasters, with a focus on 100-400 ft. bridges. Of the 67,824 existing 100-400 ft. span bridges in the U.S., 23% are structurally deficient or beyond the typical design life. Further, disasters often destroy bridges, preventing effective evacuation efforts and leaving displaced populations without access to food, water, or medical aid. To reduce mortality and morbidity rates following disasters and to expedite economic recovery, there is an urgent need to reconstruct damaged bridges. In addition to addressing these needs, this project will support the education of two graduate students in entrepreneurship and innovation, including research and coursework leading to graduate degrees in Civil Engineering, coursework in entrepreneurship leading to a Certificate, participation in I-Corps, and internships. Broadening participation of underrepresented groups will be achieved through research opportunities and an annual, “INVITE: InNoVatIon, Technology, and business in Engineering” workshop for undergraduate students from multiple institutions.The proposed project will advance the modular joint technology for commercialization. The modular joint technology is a paradigm change in design: the connection is the module and the members are standard steel sections. The technology harnesses the benefits of modularity (cost/time savings through mass-production) and trusses (high efficiency, ease of design, longevity), while overcoming the deficiencies of existing modular bridges (limited spans, unreliable pin connections) and conventional trusses (high fabrication cost, difficult construction, lack of safety). Specifically, the modular joint is comprised of a weldment/built-up section of webs and flanges that includes a starter segment to connect to members or other modular joints. Flanges and webs are connected independently through bolted splice connections, forming a moment-resisting connection that provides the potential for the structure to tolerate member loss. The proposed translational research will address the remaining technical challenges for commercialization: fabrication, construction, and safety. Research objectives include: (1) identifying parameters for minimum fabrication cost while meeting structural performance criteria, (2) investigating construction procedures and fit-up strategies, (3) evaluating behavior under member loss and fatigue load cases, and (4) developing design details and guidelines. Research will be performed through rigorous numerical investigations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.