Active NCWTS Projects
Demonstration Projects
2009
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Phares, B.
2009.
Construction of a Field Test Bridge for Evaluating Deck Design Details (721 kb) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this project is to construct a timber bridge with one of the developed and laboratory-tested design details. This work will consist of constructing and …
Research Projects
2011
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Wacker, J.
Jalinoos, F.
2011.
Field Performance of Timber Bridges: A National Study (1.48 mb) RIP-4719-013. USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
As many engineers begin to implement life-cycle cost analyses within the preliminary bridge design phase, there is a significant need for more reliable data on the expected …
2010
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Wacker, J.
Phares, B.
2010.
Development of a Smart Timber Bridge - Moisture Sensor Investigation for Historic Covered Bridges (435 KB) 4719-012. USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this work is to continue advancing timber-specific sensing capabilities with a specific interest in the application of moisture sensing for historic covered …
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James Wacker.
Matthew Smith.
2010.
Development of Standard Plans for Glulam Highway Bridges () National Center for Wood Transportation Structures.
This study develops updated and standardized design information for glulam highway bridges in accordance with the current American Association of State Highway and …
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Wipf, T.
Ritter, M.
2010.
Literature Review and Assessment of Nanotechnology for Remote Sensing of Wood Transportation Structures (743 KB) RIP 3333 014 07. USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this project is to determine the state-of-the-art in nanotechnology and to determine if and how nanotechnology can be implemented in timber and the smart timber …
2009
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Wipf, T.
Martinson, K.
2009.
Establishment of a National Center for Wood
Transportation Structures (NCWTS) Phase I (908 kb) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this project is to establish the foundation for a National Center for Wood Transportation Structures as a partnership between FPL and the ISU Bridge Engineering …
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Rammer, D.
Fanous, F.
2009.
Improved Analytical Techniques for Historic Covered Bridges (437 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this research is to develop techniques and provide recommendations for improving the analysis of historic covered timber bridges, specifically the intersection …
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Wacker, J.
Phares, B.
2009.
Improved Ratings for Covered Bridges by Load Testing (1.07 mb) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
This study will develop and establish new load-rating procedures (based upon live-load vehicle testing) for reliably determining safe load-carrying capacity of historic covered …
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Phares, B.
Ritter, M.
2009.
Security Manual for Covered Bridges (287 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
This study will develop a manual that covered bridge owners can use to implement protection and security strategies and solutions.
2007
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Phares, B.
Ritter, M.
2007.
Design of a Timber Bridge to Evaluate Deck Design Details (284 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this project is to design and coordinate the construction of a timber bridge with two or more laboratory-tested design details.
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Phares, B.
Wacker, J.
2007.
Development of a Smart Timber Bridge Phase II: Integration of Sensors into Glued-Laminated Beams (285 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this work is to develop techniques for integrating sensors within timber bridge glued-laminated components. Because sensors have not typically been embedded …
2005
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Wipf, T.
Phares, B.
2005.
Development of Design Recommendations to Minimize Timber Deck Panel Differential Deflection (542 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this work is to develop design detail recommendations for minimizing differential panel deflection of glued-laminated timber panels used in bridge decks. This …
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Wipf, T.
Phares, B.
2005.
Remote Monitoring of Historic Covered Timber Bridges in Madison County for Prevention of Arson and Vandalism (320 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
Three primary objectives are associated with this work: 1. To develop a tool that will ensure the long-term preservation of historic bridges 2. To develop and demonstrate a …
Completed NCWTS Projects
Demonstration Projects
2010
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Phares, B.
2010.
Evaluation of a Timber Bridge for the Secondary Road System using FRP Reinforced Glulam Girders (651 KB) DIP-2004-02. USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this project was to construct a timber bridge with FRP-reinforced glued-laminated timber girders and evaluate its in-service structural performance.
Research Projects
2009
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Zelinka, S.
2009.
Corrosion of Fasteners in Wood Treated with Newer Wood Preservatives for Potential Rehabilitation of Covered Bridges (1.05 mb) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
This project has three principal objectives: 1. Evaluate corrosion performance of ferrous, nonferrous, and non-metallic fasteners in wood treated with new …
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Lebow, S.
2009.
Guide for In-Place Preservative Treatment of Covered Bridges (1.30 mb) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
This project will develop a guide to assist maintenance personnel in selecting and applying in-place treatments for covered bridges.
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Clausen, C.
2009.
Naturally Durable Wood Species for Repair and Rehabilitation of Aboveground Components in Covered Bridges (956 kb) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
This project has three main objectives: 1. Assess field performance of naturally durable wood species in accelerated aboveground field tests in high and moderate decay hazard …
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Wiedenhoeft, A.
Kretschmann, D.
2009.
Species Identification and Field-Grading of Woods in Covered Bridges (1.06 mb) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objective of this project is to produce an easy-to-use field manual for engineers covering the topics of wood identification, sampling, and field grading of timbers used in …
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Brashaw, B.
Ross, R.
2009.
Use of Laser Scanning Technology to Obtain As-Built Records of Historic Covered Bridges (1.06 mb) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
This project will examine the technical feasibility of using laser scanning technologies for obtaining as-built records for historic covered timber bridges.
2007
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Wipf, T.
Ritter, M.
2007.
Revision of Timber Bridge Design Specifications (319 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objectives of this research are to (1) evaluate recent timber bridge load-test data and associated bridge performance, (2) develop analytical models of the tested bridges to …
2005
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Rammer, D.
2005.
Condition Assessment of In-Service Wood in Bridges and Structures by NIR Spectroscopy (213 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The primary objective of this research is to explore the potential utility of NIRS as a field sensor to assess the condition of in-service wood bridges and structures. A …
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Kretschmann, D.
2005.
Crash System Development and Testing of Round Guardrail Posts (219 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
Objectives: *Determine dynamic material properties for two sizes per species of round Southern Pine, ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir posts. *Test two embedment depths of round …
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Phares, B.
Wipf, T.
2005.
Development and Demonstration of Fleet Management Strategies for Timber Bridges (109 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The overall objective of this work is to apply fleet management strategies to timber bridges (each fleet of bridges has similar geometrical, material, and behavioral …
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Phares, B.
Wipf, T.
2005.
Development of a Smart Glued-Laminated Timber Bridge (126 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The objectives of this work are to develop an initial concept for a smart timber bridge and to develop a 5-year research plan for initial development, beta testing, and …
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Wipf, T.
Phares, B.
2005.
Needs Assessment for Advancing Timber Utilization in Mainline and Short-Line Railroad Applications (138 KB) USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Lab.
The primary objective of this project is to identify, describe, and prioritize a list of research needs that will serve as a basis for developing and funding research related to …