FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Manual Section 6--Timber Superstructures - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Architects and Surveyors

FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Manual Section 6--Timber Superstructures

Course Outline

This three-hour online course discusses the design characteristics, common defects, inspection procedures and locations, and evaluation of three common timber superstructures: 1) solid sawn, 2) glulam, and 3) stressed-laminated.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Be familiar with differences and similarities among three types of timber bridges: solid sawn, glulam, and stressed-laminated;
Know design characteristics of solid sawn timber bridges: multi-beam, covered, truss, and arch;
Be cognizant of design characteristics of glulam bridges: multi-beam, truss, and arch;
Understand principles of design characteristics of stress-laminated timber bridges: slab, tee beam, box beam, and K-frame;
Be acquainted with identification of primary members for each type of bridge;
Recognize secondary members for each type of bridge;
Be familiar with common defects of each type of bridge;
Know inspection procedures and locations for each type of bridge; and
Be cognizant of evaluation and NBI rating guidelines of each type of bridge.

Intended Audience

This course is intended primarily for civil, construction, and structural engineers, and would be of particular interest to consulting engineers or to engineers serving in government organizations concerned with the safety of bridges.

Benefit to Attendees

An attendee of this course will be familiar with the characteristics of common timber superstructures and will be able to apply this knowledge in bridge inspections.

Course Introduction

This course considers three types of timber bridges: solid sawn, glulam-laminated, and stressed-laminated. Because timber bridges are gaining a resurgence in popularity throughout the United States, bridge inspectors need to be familiar with timber-bridge characteristics.

Course Content

This course is based on Section 6 (Inspection and Evaluation of Common Timber Superstructures) of the Federal Highway Administration Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual, Publication No. FHWA NHI 03-001, October, 2002, Revised December, 2006.

FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Manual Section 6--Timber Superstructures

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Course Summary

The characteristics of common timber superstructures are described in a manner useful for conducting bridge inspections.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/bripro.htm

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.