FHWA Bridge Inspections: Common Timber Superstructures
Credits: 4 PDH
PDH Course Description:
The Federal Highway Administrations’ 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 6, Inspection and Evaluation of Common Timber Superstructures. Three types of timber bridges are considered: solid sawn, glulam, and stressed-laminated.Topics:
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:- Differences and similarities among three types of timber bridges: solid sawn, glulam, and stressed-laminated
- Design characteristics of solid sawn timber bridges: multi-beam, covered, truss, and arch.
- Design characteristics of glulam bridges: multi-beam bridges truss, and arch
- Design characteristics of stress-laminated timber slab, tee beam, box beam, and K-frame bridges
- Overview of common defects of each type of bridge
- Inspection procedures and locations of each type of bridge
- Evaluation and NBI rating guidelines of each type of bridge
To take this course:
1.) Enroll in Course:2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course
Download the Study Guide
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)
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)