The following FREE webinars are scheduled for 2021.
June Webinar: Use of Precast Elements for Accelerated Bridge Construction
July Webinar: Essential Highway Infrastructure – Precast Retaining Walls in Transportation Works
December Webinar: The Truth about Converting to Precast: Faster Schedules, Lower Cost and Greater Resilience
Use of Precast Elements for Accelerated Bridge Construction
Tuesday, June 22
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Eastern time (1.5 PDHs)
Speaker: Michael Culmo, P.E., CHA Consulting, Inc.
Description:
Accelerated bridge construction (ABC) has been championed by the Federal Highway Administration through a variety of programs such as Everyday Counts and Highways for Life. Additionally, there have been many university research projects conducted to verify best design and construction practices. Consequently, the use of ABC has gained wide acceptance among Departments of Transportation (DOTs) across North America. Virtually all states and provinces are using ABC with precast concrete. The market is growing every year for both conventionally reinforced and prestressed precast concrete.
This webinar will focus on the use of precast concrete elements for accelerated bridge construction. The basis of this session will be the 2018 AASHTO LRFD Guide Specifications for Accelerated Bridge Construction. This important document is the national “code” for design and construction using ABC. We will also discuss why DOTs are choosing ABC, specialized materials used in ABC, tolerances, roles of the fabricator and designer and fabrication quality control.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the unique roles for the designer, the contractor and the precast fabricator.
- Describe types and details of common prefabricated precast concrete bridge elements.
- Discuss types and details of connections between prefabricated precast concrete bridge elements.
- Explain the history and research in developing the 2018 AASHTO LRFD Guide Specifications for Accelerated Bridge Construction.
- Be familiar with the principles of the 2018 AASHTO LRFD Guide Specifications for Accelerated Bridge Construction project.
Essential Highway Infrastructure – Precast Retaining Walls in Transportation Works
Tuesday, July 13
Noon – 2 p.m. Eastern time (2 PDHs)
Speakers:
Daniel Alzamora, P.E., Federal Highway Administration
Ryan Berg, P.E., D.GE, Ryan R. Berg & Associates, Inc.
James Collin, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, The Collin Group and President of ASCE Geo-Institute
Description:
America’s highway infrastructure is constantly evolving and expanding. As these rehabilitation and new construction projects take place, precast concrete retaining wall systems continue to offer solutions to facilitate rapid and cost-effective highway construction.
During this webinar, we will discuss both gravity and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) precast concrete block retaining walls in transportation applications. The use of these systems will be illustrated by reviewing applications by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), and MnDOT specifications and pre-approved list. Example uses by counties and municipalities will also be presented.
The new (2020) stiffness MSE wall design procedure in the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Specifications will be introduced. This procedure incorporates the wall facing unit into the design, thus reducing soil reinforcement requirements for walls with large, precast block facings. Example will be presented to illustrate benefit to large, precast block systems. AASHTO gravity wall design will also be summarized.
The FHWA developed and Geo-Institute managed IDEA retaining wall review and report program will be presented. What it is, how it is operated, and advantages to wall systems suppliers and to local precasters will be discussed. The large, precast block systems reviewed to date will be listed and discussed. How to initiate a system review will be detailed, and how state DOTs are using this system will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
- List several applications for large, precast block gravity and MSE walls in highway applications.
- Identify MSE wall design procedure that accounts for facing size.
- Describe the IDEA review and report system for promotion of wall systems to DOTs and design engineers across the country.
The Truth about Converting to Precast: Faster Schedules, Lower Cost and Greater Resilience
Tuesday, Dec. 7
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Eastern time (1.5 PDHs)
Speaker: Cyndi Glascock, Gainey’s Concrete
Description:
There are myriad examples of heavy civil projects that have converted their work from cast-in-place to precast concrete. Precast is used in above- and below-ground applications and has proven to save time and money, while reducing environmental impacts and enhancing quality and resilience. This webinar will investigate various case studies focused on infrastructure projects including roadwork, bridges, sewers and utilities. We will discuss the various design factors to consider when converting from cast-in-place to precast. In addition, this webinar will discuss common misconceptions about precast and cast-in-place that may prevent specifiers and designers from looking to precast solutions. We will also discuss the short- and long-term advantages of precast concrete over other materials.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
- Reference specific case studies where cast-in-place structures were converted to precast concrete and the benefits that resulted.
- Explain the numerous advantages of precast concrete and how those advantages can impact projects timelines and bottom lines.
- Explain design factors to consider when converting from cast-in-place to precast.
- Discuss the common reasons for not converting to precast, with evidence to support otherwise.
