Civil Infrastructure Research
Answering critical infrastructure questions
Neil Hoult and Ian Moore,Department of Civil Engineering
Outline
Three example projects:
• Deteriorated culvert testing• Rehabilitated culvert testing with novel sensors• Field test of a bridge
Future facilities
Deteriorated Culvert Testing
Objectives:• Determine capacity of deteriorated culverts
Impact for partner:• Optimize rehabilitation / replacement strategies
Partners:• Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO)• National Cooperative Highway Research Program
(NCHRP)
Culvert Deterioration
(Courtesy of Taher and Moore, 2011)
Experimental Specimens
a) Heavily deteriorated b) Lightly deteriorated
Invert
Invert
Invert
Crown
SP SP
Thickness distribution for corroded culvert
Invert
Thickness distribution for corroded culvert
mm
The Buried Infrastructure LabBuilt with CFI, MRI and industry funding
Loading set-up
Simulated vehicle loading
Failure mechanism of heavily deteriorated specimen
Local Bending Local Buckling
CSP2 SA 2ft
Applied force (kN)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Thru
st fo
rce
( kN
/m)
-180
-160
-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
Applied force (kips)0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Thru
st fo
rce
(kip
/ft)
-12
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
Katona Moore CANDE Experiment-1st AASHTO CHBDC Experiment-2nd Col 15 vs Col 16
CANDE
CHBDC
AASHTO
Moore
Experiment 1st
Experiment 2nd
Katona
Results: Predicted vs. experimental forces in structure – Lightly deteriorated specimen
Forc
e in
Str
uctu
re (k
N/m
)
Forc
e in
Str
uctu
re (k
ip/ft
)
Vehicle Load (kips)
Vehicle Load (kN)
Rehabilitated Culvert Testing
Objectives:• Determine capacity of rehabilitated structures
Impact for partner:• Develop accurate procedures for rehabilitation design
Partners:• KWH Pipe• Lafarge• Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO)• National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)• Ontario Concrete Pipe Association
Fibre Optic SensorsPurchased with CFI, MRI and industry funding
• Optical Backscatter Reflectometer (OBR 4600) developed by Luna Technologies
• Allows for distributed measurements of strain
• Characterize behaviour in a way that has not been possible
Pipe Rehabilitation using slip lining
Novel Measurements – HDPE Liner
Bridge Field Testing
Objectives:• Develop tool for assessment and damage
detection in bridges
Impact for partner:• Extend bridge service lives
Partners:• Ministry of Transportation Ontario• Transport Canada
Test Site: Black River Bridge
Fibre optic layout
Fibre optic vs strain gauge measurements
Bridge response
Future FacilitiesFunded by CFI, MRI and industry
Geotechnical Testing – water and sewer pipes, culverts• Deep burial and erosion simulator• Pipe deterioration facilities• High speed distributed strain measurement (?)
Structures• Moving load simulator• Deterioration facilities• Bridge component testing
Thanks!Funding and support provided by:Canada Foundation for InnovationKWH PipeLafargeMinistry of Transportation OntarioNational Cooperative Highway Research ProgramNatural Science and Engineering Research Council of CanadaOntario Concrete Pipe Association and M-ConOntario Ministry of Research and InnovationTransport Canada
Research conducted by:Bryan Simpson, Ryan Regier and Van Thien Mai
Assisted by: Graeme Boyd, Andre Brault, Adam Hoag, Keelin Scully, Trevor Smith, Paul Thrasher, Brian Westervelt and anyone I have forgotten!