Topic outline

  • Inspection and Evaluation of Bridge Steel Superstructures (Part III)

    Credits: 3 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    The Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual (BIRM) is a comprehensive manual on programs, procedures, and techniques for inspecting and evaluating a variety of in-service highway bridges. BIRM serves as the basis of a comprehensive National Highway Institute training program in bridge-safety inspection. The present course is based on BIRM’s Section 8.6, Steel Superstructures, and discusses steel trusses.

    Topics:

    • Design characteristics
    • Definition of through, pony, and deck trusses
    • Definition of chord, web, diagonal, vertical members
    • Definition of panels, panel points
    • Function and location of bracing
    • Floor system arrangements
    • Identification of primary and secondary members
    • Common defects
    • Inspection procedures
    • Inspection locations for bearing areas, shear zones, tension members, and compression members
    • Fatigue-prone details
    • Condition-state element assessment

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course:


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide (Part 1)

    Download the Study Guide (Part 2)

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: primarily for civil, construction, and structural engineers, and would be of particular interest to consulting engineers or to engineers serving in government organizations concerned with the safety of bridges.
    Publication Source: US DOT (Federal Highway Administration)


    Mark Rossow PhD, PE (retired)

    • Topic 1