Icons of Movable Bridges Utilizing Orthotropic Bridge Decks

Abstract

This paper describes existing movable bridges in service with orthotropic steel decks that have not only performed well but are considered icons. Movable Bridges with orthotropic steel decks in North America are rare. The state of Florida has the largest number of movable bridges of any state with well over 520 movable bridges. Within the bridge engineering community, many in North America feel that orthotropic steel decks are too challenging to design and offer little benefit to the owners of movable bridges. The advantages of orthotropic steel decks will be summarized. Years have been spent collecting data and photos from the owners of these bridges. Additional bridges from Europe and Asia are selected to demonstrate the complete range of all types of this type of structure, such as the double swing span bridge; the floating movable bridge; the skewed bascule bridge, and the double leaf bascule bridge. New ideas collected from www.orthotropic-bridge.org will be discussed. Obscure references such as the final design review of an orthotropic movable bridge by the City of Chicago which was published in 1983 within an ASCE Paper will be listed. Case histories show that the low weight orthotropic option is desirable when designing a movable structure. A comprehensive reference list is provided to assist in obtaining more information. The authors were instrumental in creating www.orthotropic-bridge.org for the ASCE Sacramento Section Structural Engineering Institute.