A Comprehensive Guideline for GDOT Bridges Fire Hazard Assessment

Details

• Creators:
  Jonaidi, Mohammad ; Yee, Tien ; Oguzmert, Metin ; Goff, Dale ; Henry, Matthew
• Corporate Creators:
  Kennesaw State University
• Corporate Contributors:
  Georgia. Department of Transportation. Office of Performance-Based Management & Research ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Bridge Fire Bridge Fire History Bridge Fires Bridge Fire Trends Bridge Performance Bridges Concrete Fire Performance Fire Damage Fires Hazard Analysis Inspection Laboratory Tests Nondestructive Tests Performance Evaluations Post-fire Assessment Post-fire Inspection Procedures Risk Assessment Steel Steel Fire Performance Structural Health Monitoring Triage Procedures

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA-GA-26-2407
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report (December 2024–February 2026)
• Corporate Publisher:
  Georgia. Department of Transportation. Office of Performance-Based Management & Research
• Abstract:
  Bridge fires can cause rapid and severe loss of structural capacity. This loss of capacity often leads to major safety risks, network disruptions, and high economic impacts. A curated history of U.S. bridge fires in the 20th and 21st centuries is presented. This history identifies recurring ignition sources, contributing factors, and damage patterns associated with bridge fires. The research team further synthesizes current knowledge on critical temperatures and heat-induced defects in steel and concrete. They evaluate rapid nondestructive testing (NDT) methods that can be used for a post-fire triage inspection. Integrating the historical case studies, common trends found in the historical record of bridge fires, material behavior, and NDT information, the team presents practical guidance to support post-fire triage of highway bridges. In addition, they propose a methodology that may be implemented to develop a single, easy-to-use universal model to determine the residual structural capacity of fire damaged concrete. Laboratory burn testing of concrete samples was conducted to quantify residual compressive strength as a function of changes in rebound hammer values and ultrasonic pulse velocity. During testing, the model produced a standard error of 8 percent for estimating residual compressive strength. This indicates promise for refinement with further testing. A three-factor model that incorporated visual cues was also developed. The three-factor model improved overall fit but raised concerns about robustness and practical reliability. The report concludes with recommendations for post-fire inspection procedures, expanded training for bridge and maintenance personnel, and wider availability of NDT equipment to support timely, consistent, and defensible triage decision following bridge fires.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  0020307
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0a36bf2a2c104802c1f26921f93159d43854ac39023c6316d6c26f69ce4f7db93ce9c946f431483c5a58b6b2ff68cb3ae351f373f43f88d5ed40c537875274f7
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/89537/dot_89537_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.09 MB ]