TT--11 200511 2005 11
Grand Challenges:
Grand Challenges:
A Strategic Plan
A Strategic Plan
for Bridge Engineering
for Bridge Engineering
NCHRP Project 20
NCHRP Project 20
-
-
07/Task 199
07/Task 199
Final Report
Final Report
Dennis R. Mertz
Dennis R. Mertz
University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware
Report from a Workshop in
Report from a Workshop in
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
April 18
April 18
-
-
20, 2005
20, 2005
TT--11 200511 2005 22
2000 WORKSHOP
2000 WORKSHOP

Systems, and Technologies;


Efficient Maintenance, Rehabilitation,
Efficient Maintenance, Rehabilitation,
and Construction;
and Construction;


Bridge Management;
Bridge Management;


Enhanced Specifications for Improved
Enhanced Specifications for Improved
Structural Performance;
Structural Performance;


Computer
Computer
-
-
Aided Design, Construction,
Aided Design, Construction,
and Maintenance; and
and Maintenance; and


Leadership.

mathematician David Hilbert in 1900, these
critical problems are termed
critical problems are termed
“
“
Grand Challenges.
Grand Challenges.
”
”
TT--11 200511 2005 66
The prioritized grand challenges are:
The prioritized grand challenges are:


Extending Service Life,
Extending Service Life,


Optimizing Structural Systems,
Optimizing Structural Systems,


Accelerating Bridge Construction,
Accelerating Bridge Construction,


Advancing the AASHTO Specifications,
Advancing the AASHTO Specifications,



lists of important activities/research areas and
minimum measures of success, called
minimum measures of success, called
benchmarks, are included. The benchmarks are
benchmarks, are included. The benchmarks are
grouped as: short term (in 2
grouped as: short term (in 2
-
-
3 years), mid
3 years), mid
-
-
term
term
(in 4
(in 4
-
-
5 years) and long term (beyond 5 years.)
5 years) and long term (beyond 5 years.)
TT--11 200511 2005 88
GRAND CHALLENGE 1:
GRAND CHALLENGE 1:
EXTENDING SERVICE LIFE
EXTENDING SERVICE LIFE
To understand the processes that decrease the
To understand the processes that decrease the
serviceability of existing bridges and highway
serviceability of existing bridges and highway