CURVED STEEL BRIDGE RESEARCH PROJECT. INTERIM REPORT I: SYNTHESIS

The objectives of the FHWA Curved Steel Bridge Program are (1) to conduct fundamental research into the structural behavior of curved steel flexural members and bridges, and (2) to address construction issues, in order to provide adequate information to develop and clarify design specifications. The work under this program is a coordinated effort between the Transportation Research Board (TRB), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and participating States under a Highway Planning and Research (HPR (2) update of the current specification in a load factor design format; (3) conduct of research recommended by Structural Stability Research Council's (SSRC's) Task Group 14 at the April 14-15, 1991 workshop; and (4) development of a load and resistance factor design specification based on research conducted area 3. Areas 1 and 3 are conducted by FHWA as a pooled fund study with an administrative contract. Area 2 is conducted by TRB under the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 12-38. Area 4 is proposed to be addressed by NCHRP at a future date. This report summarizes the results of a comprehensive literature search under the FHWA research program.