Ce 2 Honduras FinalReport
Ce 2 Honduras FinalReport
Final Report
Prepared by:
William Hellman
Caroline Janssen
Miranda Mangahas
Nathan Miller
Cole Siegenfeld
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION 3
II. PRE-DESIGN 3
Literature Review Overview 3
Codes & Technical Specifications 3
Site Assessment 4
Hydrological Assessment 4
Geotechnical Assessment 4
III. DESIGN 5
Bridge Choice 5
Superstructure 6
Substructure 7
Constructability 9
V. LESSONS LEARNED 12
VIII. APPENDICES 14
Appendix A: References 15
Appendix B: Schedule 18
Appendix C: Hydrological Assessment 19
Appendix D: Geotechnical Assessment 27
Appendix E: Calculations 53
Appendix F: Community Assessment 64
Appendix G: Environmental Assessment 69
Appendix H: Cost Assessment 70
Appendix I: Design Documents 72
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I. INTRODUCTION
For several communities near the rural village of Bacadillas, Honduras, access to the Predisan
medical clinic is restricted by a steep riverbed which becomes impassable during the rainy
season. In recent years, locals have annually constructed makeshift bridges to allow access to the
clinic, only to have them washed away as the river level inevitably rises. The team aims to
eliminate this issue by producing construction-ready documents for a long-term pedestrian
bridge.
The design will be founded upon input from the community and direct measurements
taken of the area, gathered during a team trip to the village in the Fall of 2019. Furthermore, the
design emphasizes safety, constructability, economic feasibility, resiliency, and sustainability.
An environmental assessment and community impact assessment were performed to ensure
sustainability and safety in the design. A cost estimate was created to determine the economic
feasibility of the project. A final pitch was then performed in conjunction with the Lipscomb
Design Team to Predisan Health Ministries, owners of the clinic. The team hopes that the
preliminary design documents and subsequent bridge construction will allow for safe and
sustained travel to the clinic and consequently an improved quality of life for the surrounding
communities.
II. PRE-DESIGN
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The AASHTO Pedestrian Bridge Design standards were also referred to throughout the
project. The full set of standards were not accessible, instead the mentors provided the necessary
pages used in design. These standards were used to help with loadings, thermal expansion
calculations, railing opening design, and railing strength design. The American Institute of Steel
Construction Manual was referenced for steel member sizing and strength calculations, and the
AISC Steel Bridge Alliance splice calculator was used in tandem with hand calculations to size
splices.
Site Assessment
In November 2019, three of the five members of the team traveled to the site for three days of
assessment work in conjunction with the Lipscomb Design Team. The goal of the visit was to
procure engineering information concerning the topography, hydrology, geology, and material
availability. An investigation into community wants and needs was conducted, ensuring that the
community is a part of the decision process. By giving community members a stake in the
project, they will be active members in the design and upkeep of the bridge.
The assessments performed were surveying, geological sample analysis, discussions with
a local contractor, and discussions with members of the community. The team surveyed the
proposed bridge site, including the topography near the clinic, the houses by the roadway, and
the riverbed. The surveying data was then imported into AutoCAD Civil 3D and a surface was
made for design. During the geotechnical investigation, geological samples were taken, 3 on the
clinic side and 1 on the roadway side. Auger sampling and cone penetration tests were performed
on site. Of the samples taken, only two samples made it through customs. These samples were
used for further analysis in the geotechnical assessment. Onsite, multiple community meetings
occurred. Learning more about the community and their desires and needs ensures that the
community is actively involved and invested in this project.
Hydrological Assessment
The hydrological assessment is attached in Appendix B. This assessment utilized the
hydrological modeling system HEC-HMS. Storm information was found from Hurricane Mitch,
a 1 in 500 year storm that hit Honduras in 1998. Using this storm data and topographical data
found online, a computer model on HEC-HMS was made of the watershed feeding into the
bridge site. The maximum water flow was determined from the model, assuming large amounts
of runoff from the surrounding hills into the stream system. From this flow, the high water mark
was calculated using Manning’s equation. The other variables were determined from the survey
data and by estimating the roughness of the stream bed. The high water mark was calculated to
be 100.4 feet from the model. However, testimonies from community members stated the water
had risen as high as 101.4 feet, so the larger number was used to set the high water mark. Using
the high water mark and 3 feet of freeboard, the bottom bridge elevation was set to 104.4 feet,
resulting in a deck elevation of 106.6 feet. This data was later used for the foundation placement.
Geotechnical Assessment
The geological assessment is attached in Appendix D. This assessment was conducted by the
Lipscomb Design Team. Both onsite and offsite testing results are summarized. This includes all
estimates and reasonings in determining the geological layout of the site. Onsite testing consisted
of auger sampling and the dynamic cone penetration test. Then the auger samples we packed to
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bring back to the US. The samples that made it through customs were analyzed in Lipscomb’s
lab. In the lab, the Lipscomb Design Team ran an atterberg limit tests and a sieve analysis. The
type of soil was classified under USCS as poorly graded sand. The ultimate bearing capacity was
an estimated 2000 pounds per square-foot. This data was later used for the foundation design.
III. DESIGN
Bridge Choice
Following the initial assessments, the team looked towards similar projects to find guidance as to
which bridge type would best suit the site. The design standards initially chosen were those of
Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a well-established international pedestrian bridge design and
implementation organization. B2P specializes in suspension and suspended bridges and so those
were the primary bridge options originally pursued. Alternatives, such as the truss bridge, were
also entertained, but initially ruled out in comparison to the less expensive and more
constructable nature of suspended and suspension bridges.
Upon delving deeper into the design process for these wire rope bridges, some
significant challenges arose. The most problematic issues encountered included limited
international availability and high expense of steel cables, difficulties in meeting freeboard
clearance requirements due to bridge sag, and minimal space for tie-back foundations on the
road-side. Upon notification of Predisan’s preference for a steel-beam bridge, the team decided
to pivot the design intentions to accommodate the wants and needs of those the bridge would be
serving.
Before resorting to a truss bridge design, the team thoroughly researched all available
options and discovered the stringer bridge. Reservations with the truss bridge primarily laid with
the relatively complex on-site assembly involved. These concerns were solved by the stringer
bridge, which basically consists of two simply supported beams spanning the entire length of the
bridge. Not only are on-site assembly and construction efforts reduced when compared to the
truss bridge, but difficulties in satisfying foundation spacing and freeboard clearance
requirements were resolved as well. Additional benefits of the stringer bridge design include an
overall smaller footprint because of its minimized weight, no need for heavy equipment or
special tools during construction, and a design that can primarily be constructed by local
residents to support community involvement. It became clear that a stringer bridge was the best
option for this project.
Beam Selection
The beam selection calculations are attached in Appendix E.1. As the primary load-bearing
component of the bridge, choosing the beam was an important decision that would influence the
rest of the bridge’s configuration.
To begin, some initial assumptions had to be made. Informed by the hydrological and
topographical analyses of the site, a span length of 80 feet was decided upon. Three
equally-spaced lateral bracings were assumed for an unbraced length of 20 feet.
As for loadings, conservative values were used as safety and durability were top
priorities. For the dead loads, a 30 pound per linear foot uniform load was chosen for the decking
components, a 40 pound per linear foot uniform load was chosen for the railing components, and
a 70 pound per linear foot uniform load was chosen for the beams and additional steel
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components. For the live load, a uniform load of 255 pounds per linear foot was used for strength
design. While this may seem excessive for a pedestrian footbridge, this loading accounts for
community members traversing the bridge using motorcycles within reason. Live load deflection
checks account for twenty-five, 200-pound people and motorcycle use. Beam deflection was also
checked for a 500 pound point load acting at midspan to represent a motorcycle. While the use of
motor vehicles is strongly discouraged by the rest of the bridge’s design, it was decided to
accommodate the occasional vehicle on the bridge for safety purposes.
Using a factor of safety of 1.25 for the dead load and 1.75 for the live load, a uniform
load of 0.3106 kips per linear foot was required per beam. Multiple beams were tried and
checked for moment capacity and live load deflection serviceability. After meticulous calculation
and careful consideration, W24x68 Grade 50 steel beams were chosen.
The bridge span will be 80 feet, with an additional 2 feet on each end to connect the
beams to the abutments. It is not feasible to transport 2 84-foot beams to the bridge site that each
weigh over 5,700 pounds. It was expedient to divide the bridge into 3 smaller sections, each 28
feet long. These members will fit into a tractor trailer and will be transported to their final
location with some methods discussed below.
Superstructure
Splices
Since each beam will be divided into three sections, it was necessary to design beam splice
connections. The connections consisted of bolted plates on the top and bottom flanges and on the
webs of the W-shape steel members. Using 3 beams of equal length, the splices would occur at
the third points of the span. Using an Excel Spreadsheet from the American Institute of Steel
Construction (AISC) in tandem with hand calculations for assurance, the specifications were
input for the bridge. In return, the number of bolts needed for both the flange and web splice
plates were given. In this case, the flanges required two rows of 3 bolts each and the webs
required two rows of 5 bolts each. Conceptual drawings can be seen below in Figures 1 and 2:
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Cross-Frames
In the process of sizing the steel members, an unbraced length of 20 feet was assumed. Unbraced
length is a key component in the lateral-torsional buckling failure mode. The cross-framing every
20 feet along the span prevents this failure mode from occurring and allows the choice of smaller
steel sections for the superstructure. Channel sections (C12x20.7) were used for each brace in the
design. For added stability against any unexpected lateral load on the structure such as wind,
cross-framing was used at each end of the span. These elements consisted of angles connected
together in a cross shape to additionally support the span. For these steel pieces, L4x4x3/8
members were chosen. The layout of these elements can be seen in Figure 3 below, and the
design details can be found in Appendix I.
Decking
The walkway design can be composed of either composite material or treated wood. Each option
has advantages and disadvantages. However, composite material is more durable and
long-lasting so it is the recommended choice for this design. The decking must be water-resistant
and must be able to span 2 feet with the design loadings without failure. Most composite
materials meet this standard. The local availability of composite materials for decking is a
possible issue. Treated wood would be a viable substitute given the low environmental impact,
but it is not widely available locally.
Railings
Railings on the side of the bridge ensure the safety of the users. They are designed to support a
lateral load in accordance with AASHTO Standards and maintain spacing such that a 6-in
diameter sphere could not pass through the railing at any point (AASHTO).
The railings will consist of 4-inch by 4-inch posts spaced at 8 feet connected to a handrail
and a toe board, each sized at 2 inches by 4 inches. Chain link fencing will be stapled to the
horizontal members of the railings with heavy-duty staples. Wood was selected as the railing
material because it is both less expensive and more environmentally friendly than steel. Chain
link fence was selected to ensure safety of the users by minimizing gaps in the railings.
The railings will be connected to the bridge at two places. First, a C7x9.8 will be bolted
to a 20-inch by 4.25-inch by 0.5-inch stiffener plate welded to the W24x68. The C-shape will
also bolt to the 4-inch by 4-inch post. The post will also bolt to two L3x3x½’s that will connect
the post to the nailer board.
Substructure
Approach Ramps
The Bridges to Prosperity Bridge Builder Manual (Bridges to Prosperity) was used to design the
approach ramps. The ramps will consist of 8-inch concrete masonry block walls supported by a
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1-foot-thick concrete footer. Inside the walls, levels of fill consisting of rock, gravel, and sand
will meet the top of the masonry blocks. The ramp will be capped with a 4-inch-thick concrete
slab.
Railings will be embedded in the ramp. The posts will be 4 inches by 4 inches and extend
at least 42 inches above the surface of the ramp. Horizontal 2-inch by 4-inch members at the top
and bottom of the posts will be attached to chain link fencing with heavy-duty staples.
The ramps will be no steeper than a 5:1 (20%) slope to ensure usability for clinic patients.
The exact dimensions of the ramps will be determined in the field by the contractor in
accordance with the given specifications. The base of the ramp will match the existing grade.
Foundation
The foundation design relies heavily on the information gathered in the geotechnical assessment.
The maximum gross allowable bearing capacity of the soil is 2000 pounds per square foot. This
value is potentially conservative, as every boring hit rock before the 6.5 feet specified by B2P,
which qualifies the ground conditions as rock (Bridges to Prosperity). However, the cause of
refusal could also be large boulders suspended throughout the subsurface profile, so the
conservative value was used. The foundations are constructed of three elements, as seen in
Figure 4: a footing (foundation), an abutment, and an endwall.
The footing must be large enough to spread the weight of the bridge-foundation-combo over the
soil, so as not to exceed 2000 pounds per square foot. The abutment raises the bridge elevation
so that it is above the maximum water level determined in the hydrological assessment, and the
endwall acts as a retaining wall to hold backfill material from under the ramps. The foundation
will be made of concrete, and will need enough rebar for possible tension forces in the concrete.
The bridge is relatively light compared to the weight of large buildings that foundations
often need to support. The calculations for the dimensions/thickness of the concrete and the area
of steel were both calculated, as can be found in Appendix E.4. However, the calculated values
were all below the minimum required footing thickness and area of steel, so the minimum
specifications were utilized for the design. This resulted in a 1 foot thick footing, 5.3/5.8 foot tall
abutments, and 458 feet of rebar.
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Abutment Connections
Due to the variation in temperature, slotted holes on one side of the bridge was deemed
necessary. The connections between the beams and abutments on the north end will be bolted in
place while the south end will have slotted holes to allow for thermal expansion and contraction.
Using AASHTO’s Pedestrian Bridge Guidelines, the thermal expansion was estimated to be
around 0.76 inches. To allow for this expansion, the slotted holes are designed to be 2.5 inches
long with a 1.125 inch width to accomodate the 1 inch anchor bolt. The 2.5 inch slot size allows
for an expansion or contraction of 1.25 inches, allowing for a large clearance of our estimated
expansion length.
To connect the W24x68 beams to the abutment, a bearing plate, a neoprene pad, and
anchor bolts are utilized, as visualized in Figure 5. The beams are attached with a fillet weld to
the bearing plate, which lays on top of the neoprene pad. The base plates on the south end of the
bridge will have the aforementioned slot hole to allow for thermal expansion and contraction.
The neoprene pad, however, will not have a slotted hole and will remain stationary.
Constructability
A differentiating factor of this bridge design is the simplicity in construction. The small bridge
footprint fits perfectly between the existing houses. For a bridge of this span, and without the
help of machinery, it is anticipated that shoring will be required for construction. This will be
true for a truss or a stringer bridge, eliminating potential additional costs. This simple and
intuitive design consists of two beamlines. The designed field splices allow for each individual
piece that could be positioned by hand without the need for construction equipment. Eliminating
the need for construction equipment further increases the cost savings of this design. With few
members, this design offers straightforward construction and avoids the confusion of many
structural components. Volunteers will be helping with the construction and safety is integral. A
simple design is safer for all those involved.
Potential challenges may arise during the transportation of the large members to the rural
community and moving the heavy members from the bank onto the falsework. Transportation of
such large members has been considered. The longest members are about 28 feet in length and
large trucks are necessary. During the site visit, trucks of this size were seen near the proposed
bridge site, indicating it is possible to get the materials to site. The heaviest members weigh
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approximately 1,900 pounds. Once onsite, members can be transferred one of two ways or a
combination of both. By rolling members on top of logs or carrying them using straps, the beams
can be safely moved towards the falsework. Rolling members is a cheap method to move the
beams without necessarily having to completely lift them. Using straps, volunteers will stand on
each side of the bridge and lift together to move the bridge. The simplicity of construction
minimizes risks to both the bridge's integrity and those who construct it.
Community Assessment
The community assessment is attached in Appendix F. The assessment was led to confirm that
the addition of a bridge to the community would be an effective solution. While on the site visit,
team members were able to interact with community leaders and with the community at large.
Afterward, it was determined that the clinic is incredibly well run. Patients attend their
appointments and the staff members
consistently update knowledge on the
medical conditions of the communities
they serve, meaning that a bridge would
solve the last issue tampering with the
effectiveness of the clinic: being able to
physically cross the river. Furthermore,
community members are engaged in
community projects and are willing to
lend a hand for the construction and
upkeep of the bridge. This is proven in
their meeting engagement, as seen in
Figure 6, as well as with a past
bridge-build to a soccer field. Finally,
the needs of the community had to be
taken into account in the design process. While the team initially chose a suspended/suspension
bridge for their low cost and ease of construction, there was potential for the tiebacks from such
a bridge to infringe on private property. As such, it was not the right choice for the community
and a stringer bridge was utilized instead.
Environmental Assessment
The environmental assessment is attached in Appendix G. This assessment was conducted to
examine both the carbon impacts of this project and the impact on the local ecosystem. A goal
during the design process was to remain environmentally conscious of this impact and minimize
the impact when able. Total steel was reduced as much as possible in the bridge design. Carbon
emissions were further minimized by the usage of local resources. To maintain the local
ecosystem, there was a focus on managing erosion, water runoff, and sedimentation throughout
the construction process.
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Cost Estimate
The cost estimate spreadsheet is attached in Appendix H. This spreadsheet details each bridge
component’s total cost, total quantity, and unit cost. Table 1 below provides a summary of the
design’s most significant cost categories.
Throughout the bridge’s design, cost was always minimized without compromising
safety or design quality. Some of the ways in which costs were reduced include:
● The use of long, continuous spans to lessen the number of expansion joints and
bearings required, consequently limiting the future maintenance costs accompanied
by these design aspects (Steel Bridge Design Handbook)
● Minimizing the bridge span while complying with freeboard requirements
● Choosing the most economical and effective beam shape
● Maximizing the use of locally sourced materials, such as in the design of railing
components
The overall bridge construction is expected to cost $30,770. This total cost includes the
transportation fees associated with all the materials needed. Note that all values listed are
educated estimations informed by industry professionals’ pricing knowledge and reliable online
resources and therefore do not guarantee the price of any specific material or bridge component.
For this reason, a 10% contingency of $3,077 has been included in the cost assessment.
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V. LESSONS LEARNED
During the fall semester, a professor from the Peabody school came to the senior design seminar
to deliver a lecture on small group dynamics. He talked about the four stages of group
development, one of which is “norming.” During norming, group members are finding their
place in the group, how they will contribute, and who the leaders are. One thing a group can do
to help during this time is to create structures that promote interpersonal relationships that are not
project-based and make members feel included. The Honduras Bridge Design Team attempted to
accomplish this through monthly social events. Group members would take turns hosting a meal
at their home, and other group members would often bring ingredients and help cook. The team
found these events helped tremendously to boost morale and develop friendships.
On the site visit to Honduras, it was very evident the bridge would not be designed and
built in an ideal environment. One example of this was the difficulty of collecting data. With no
GPS or standardized coordinate system to tie into, the engineering survey was done using
relative coordinates based on benchmarks set near the site. Not all necessary geotechnical
equipment was able to be transported to the site from the United States, so data collection was
limited for the geotechnical report. Some of the soil samples were confiscated when reentering
the United States because they contained trace amounts of organic material. The team was
unable to obtain local precipitation data, so data from a singular storm was used to run the
hydrologic model. All of these demonstrate that, while ideal data sets may not be available or
possible, an engineering team must be resourceful in obtaining the information required to
deliver a robust, safe design. This may necessitate using a conservative estimate on some design
aspects, which will increase costs. However, the extra expense is worth the assurance of safety.
The site visit also helped contribute to the team’s understanding of the needs of the
Bacadillas community. An engineering solution that does not account for these needs is at best
useless and at worst harmful to the people it serves. Care was taken to interview community
leaders so as to ensure a design that benefited the community and would protect their safety.
Working on a project in another country poses unique challenges. The site visit helped
with many of these challenges, but the team still had to work around many of them, such as a
language barrier in many reports, working in both metric and english units, and ensuring the
bridge could be constructed with minimal equipment and volunteer labor. These challenges
helped give the team a deeper experience and a greater appreciation for the necessary codes and
standards in the United States.
There were many entities that contributed to this project, and lines of communication
needed to be open between all of them. The design team needed to communicate with Predisan
staff, community members, the Lipscomb Design Team and their faculty, and the professional
mentors. The team also needed to communicate among its own members. Communication was
typically communicated via email outside the group, and via Slack and team meetings within.
The members of the team learned to communicate clearly and succinctly over the course of the
year, which increased the efficiency of work. One example of how this impacted the project was
the bridge type. Initially, the team planned to design a suspended or suspension bridge. However,
after presenting this idea to Predisan, they expressed concerns over obtaining steel cables. This
allowed the team to switch to a stringer design, which will be of better service to Predisan and
avoid impinging on private property near the clinic, serving the needs of the community better.
Each aspect of the bridge needed to be designed with attention to detail. Unfortunately, it
was a learning curve to reach the appropriate level of detail needed for the final plan set. Each
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aspect of the bridge took several iterations of design, team discussion, and mentor review before
it reached an appropriate level of detail. In retrospect, a better understanding of the amount of
specifications required for each component of the bridge would have streamlined design.
The team was made up of five members, all with different experiences, strengths, and
interests. Each member did a good job of articulating which aspects of the project they were
interested in and being proactive about contributing to those aspects. This allowed the project to
run more efficiently and gave each team member incentives to work hard on things they were
interested in.
Bridge Maintenance
In order to be a successful long-term solution, the bridge will have to be regularly maintained.
The members of the community will play a large role in this. During the site visit, several
community leaders testified that the community is well versed with forming effective committees
to complete tasks. The community will have to organize groups that will repaint the bridge
regularly, as well as perform structural checks to ensure no deformations are forming in the
bridge. If any decking or railing components decay or are damaged, they will need to be replaced
promptly for safety purposes.
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VIII. APPENDICES
Appendix A: References
Appendix B: Schedule
Appendix C: Hydrological Assessment
Appendix D: Geotechnical Assessment
Appendix E: Calculations
E.1: Beam Choice
E.2: Splice Design
E.3: Railing
E.4: Foundation
E.5: Thermal Expansion
E.6: Beam-to-Abutment Connections
E.7: Loadings on Shoring
Appendix F: Community Assessment
Appendix G: Environmental Assessment
Appendix H: Cost Assessment
Appendix I: Design Documents
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Appendix A: References
“1"x18" w/ 4" Thread Straight Anchor Bolt.” Anchor Bolt Express. www.anchorboltexpress.com,
http://www.anchorboltexpress.com/1x18-w-4-thread-straight-anchor-bolt/. Accessed 29
Apr. 2020.
“2020 Topsoil, Sand & Fill Dirt Delivery Costs (Prices Per Yard).” HomeGuide.
homeguide.com, https://homeguide.com/costs/fill-dirt-sand-topsoil-cost. Accessed 29
Apr. 2020.
ASTM A36 Structural Steel Angle Section Properties Moment of Inertia, Steel Beam Size,
CrossSection Area - Engineers Edge.
https://www.engineersedge.com/standard_material/Steel_angle_properties.htm. Accessed
29 Apr. 2020.
Baez, Fabian Augusto Lamus, Carlos Felipe Urazan Bonells, and Sofía Andrade Pardo.
"Modular Footbridges of Guadua Angustifolia Kunth." Key Engineering Materials 668
(2015): 218-26. ProQuest. Web. 29 Sep. 2019.
Bang, Avery Louise. “Cable-Suspended Pedestrian Bridge Design for Rural Construction.”
University of Colorado Graduate School. 2009.
“Bridge Design Based on Construction Material Type.” Innovative Bridge Design Handbook:
Construction, Rehabilitation and Maintenance, by Alessio Pipinato, Elsevier, 2016, pp.
273–298.
Buy A325 & A490 Structural Bolts - Heavy Hex Structural Bolts in Bulk | AFT Fasteners.
https://www.aftfasteners.com/structural-bolts/#/Bolts-C732/Structural-Bolts-C1677/?sort
=Price-F2D&Grade=A325%2C+Type+1-F12196&Length=6%22-F1082&noidx=1.
Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.
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Design and Estimating | American Institute of Steel Construction.
https://www.aisc.org/nsba/design-and-estimation-resources/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2020.
“Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Honduran Emerald Hummingbird
(Amazilia Luciae).” Federal Register, 29 July 2015. www.federalregister.gov,
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/07/29/2015-18602/endangered-and-thre
atened-wildlife-and-plants-listing-the-honduran-emerald-hummingbird-amazilia.
Matthews, Kayla. “How Engineering Footbridges Improves Rural Economies.” Engineering For
Change, Engineering For Change, 15 Aug. 2018,
www.engineeringforchange.org/news/how-engineering-bridges-can-save-developing-co
mmunities/.
Steel Bridge Design Handbook - Steel - Structures - Bridges & Structures - Federal Highway
Administration. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/steel/pubs/if12052/. Accessed 29 Apr.
2020.
Steel Is the World’s Most Recycled Material | SRI - Steel Recycling Institute.
www.steelsustainability.org, https://www.steelsustainability.org/recycling. Accessed 27
Apr. 2020.
Structural A36 Steel Channel Section Properties Table Chart - Engineers Edge.
https://www.engineersedge.com/standard_material/Steel_channel_properties.htm.
Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.
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“Wood Screws at Lowes.Com.” Lowe’s. www.lowes.com,
https://www.lowes.com/pl/Wood-screws-Screws-Fasteners-Hardware/4294710838.
Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.
Xiao, Yan and Zhou, Quan and Shan, Bo. “Design and Construction of Modern Bamboo
Bridges.” Journal of Bridge Engineering. vol 15, no. 5, 2010, pp. 533-541.
10.1061/(asce)be.1943-5592.0000089.
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Appendix B: Schedule
Final Schedule
Deadlines shown in bold on chart September October November December January February March April
Phase Item 2 9 16 23 1 7 14 21 1 4 11 18 25 2 9 16 23 1 6 13 20 27 3 10 17 24 2 9 16 23 1 6 13 20 27
Start Teams Announced 9/9
Initial Literary Review
Specific Literary Review
Initial Mentor Meeting
Preliminary Project
Work Planning trip to Bacadilla
Researching standards and ratings
Prepare First Semester Presentation
First Semester Report
Site Visit and Engineering data collection
Assessment Community data collection
Finalize design standards
Pre-Design Brainstorm bridge type, materials, logistics
Determine bridge type, materials, logistics
Geotechnical Assessment 2/2 4/12
Hydrological Assessment 2/2
Design Iteration 1 2/23
Engineering Design
Design Iteration 2 3/22
Final Engineering Design 4/3 4/29
Perform environmental assessment
Draft 1 of Report 4/3
Final Draft of Report Complete 4/12 4/29
Final Deliverables
Practice Presentation 4/2
Final Presentation 4/15
End Design Day 4/20
Actual Schedule
Planned Schedule
Missed Original Deadline
Met Original Deadline
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Appendix C: Hydrologic Assessment
Watershed Description
The watershed boundary was delineated by hand using a topographical map (attached).
The watershed boundary was then drawn onto the topographical map in AutoCAD Civil 3D, then
delineated into 9 separate subbasins. There are four stream reaches in the watershed located in
subbasin 1, subbasin 2, subbasin 6, and subbasin 8. The delineations are outlined in Figure 1
below. The X is the approximate location of the bridge site.
The SCS Curve Number Loss Method was used to estimate runoff. A curve number for
each subbasin had to be estimated. The curve number relates the land use to infiltration rates.
Based on the soil map in Figure 2, the predominant soil surrounding our area of interest were
alluvial soils. We used both this map and our observations from the auger samples to determine
the soil to be class D. We assumed a wet antecedent moisture Based on these properties and the
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land use we estimated the curve number to fall between 65-90. Using google maps, we estimated
the impervious areas for each subbasin.
Synder’s Unit Hydrograph Method is the transform method used. The time to peak and
peaking coefficient were used in the model. The time to peak was determined by estimating Lca,
the distance along the main stream from the base to a point near the center of gravity of the basin
and L, the length of the main stream channel. The Ct values inputted into the model were
determined from typical values found for foothills areas (0.7) and mountainous watersheds (1.2)
[2]. Using google maps, the site visit, and the topographical map, we estimated the basin
roughness to determine the Ct. The peaking values (Cp) values were determined from the
common range of 0.4-0.8 [2]. The higher values correspond to more mountainous areas, while
the smaller values correspond to flatter areas.
The Muskingum Routing method was used to route the reaches in the watershed. This
storage routing method depends on two parameters, X and K. The K value is the travel time
through the reach determined by finding the time of concentration using estimates from the
USBR Designs of Small Dams equation. It is dependent on the change in elevation between the
outlet and divide and the channel length. We deemed this was applicable to our watershed and
the error from estimating the parameters is minimal compared to other time of concentrations
equations. The X value is a storage constant. Based on literature, the X is typically 0.2. This X
20
value corresponds with the roughness of the stream routing channels observed near Radnor Lake,
which would disseminate the peak flow entering the stream reach before it reaches the lake.
Computer Model
HEC-HMS is the computer system used to analyze the watershed. The data outlined in
Appendix A was inputted into the model. The basin model for Bacadillas is seen in Figure 3 .
The precipitation data used for this analysis was from a 72-hour storm from Hurricane Mitch.
This storm was estimated to be a 1 in 500/600 year storm event.
After inputting all necessary information, the model computed the maximum flow
downstream at Junction 1. This flow was then used to compute the maximum water height using
Manning’s equation for open channel flow based on an estimated cross section seen in Figure 4.
21
Figure 4: Stream Crossing at Proposed Bridge Location
CN Q (cfs) H (ft)
65 1321.4 8.079
70 1500.0 8.867
75 1566.2 9.139
79 1651.5 9.446
85 1758.5 9.786
90 1825.4 9.980
This process was repeated at the varying range of curve numbers to determine how our
estimations affect the flow and consequently the maximum water height.
A roughness coefficient (n) of 0.15 was estimated for the stream channel based on the
high amount of trees, shrubs, rocks, etc. found in the stream.
Results
Based on our model, the maximum flood height using the most conservative curve
number estimate is approximately 10-ft. The measured high water marks are about 11-ft above
the bottom of the river. Therefore we recommend the lowest point of the bridge should be 11 feet
above the centerline of the stream, which is an elevation of 101.4’ at the proposed bridge site.
This elevation corresponds to the elevation of the back porch of one of the community member’s
22
homes, which was presented as a high water mark by the local residents. However, the bridge
could be lowered if it is determined that a 500-year design is too cautious.
Many assumptions were made using this model and a lot of the data was older. The
precipitation storm data was gathered from Tegucigalpa during Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which
is considered a 1 in 500/600 year storm. The topographic map used to delineate the subbasins
was from 1998. Using Manning’s equation, the bottom of the riverbed was assumed to be flat
and the slope was extended linearly to counter lack of data.
Sources
http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/honduras/la_bacadia-honduras-50k-3060ii-1988.pdf
http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11688488_06.pdf
https://aguadehonduras.gob.hn/delimitacioneshonduras/
Data
23
8 11198907 0.402 65-90 1
9 18577955 0.666 65-90 0
Table 5. Precipitation Data, Hurricane Mitch 1 in 500/600 year storm (Incremental Inches)
24
14 0.000
15 0.005
16 0.000
17 0.000
18 0.048
19 0.000
20 0.000
21 0.000
22 0.000
23 0.000
24 0.017
25 0.005
26 0.092
27 0.037
28 0.164
29 0.153
30 0.127
31 0.109
32 0.087
33 0.131
34 0.119
35 0.066
36 0.535
37 0.394
38 0.234
39 0.149
40 0.087
41 0.085
42 0.015
43 0.151
44 0.151
45 0.234
46 0.297
47 0.814
25
48 0.525
49 0.755
50 0.569
51 0.510
52 0.503
53 0.477
54 0.433
55 0.212
56 0.235
57 0.026
58 0.026
59 0.168
60 0.096
61 0.328
62 0.262
63 0.042
64 0.009
65 0.011
66 0.007
67 0.079
68 0.014
69 0.000
70 0.007
71 0.000
72 0.007
26
NECT Solutions Project No. 19001
NECT Solutions
Noah Kimbrough, Emily Morgan, Chris Schneider, Trent Beacham
One University Park Drive
Nashville, TN 37204
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2 ECT Solutions: Bacadilla Bridge 19001
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Table of Contents
- Introduction 3
- Site Conditions 4
- Project Description 5
- Geotechnical Characterization 6
- Geotechnical Overview 8
- Earthwork 8
- Shallow Foundations 9
- Deep Foundations 9
- Seismic Considerations 9
- General Comments 10
- Attachments 11
- Exploration and Testing Procedures
- Site Location and Exploration Plans
- Exploration Results
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Introduction
This report documents the findings of our surveying and geotechnical
investigation for the proposed bridge for the Predisan clinic located in Bacadilla,
Honduras. This report will include information on existing site conditions, foundation
Information regarding testing of the soil samples and results of the testing will be
respectively. In addition the Boring Logs will also be located in the Exploration Results
section.
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Site Conditions
The following description of the existing site conditions is from our site visit in
Item Description
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Project Description
Our scope of project can be located in our initial proposal. A brief overview of the
Item Description
Below Grade Structures Both foundations and the retaining wall will be
partially below grade.
Free-Standing Retaining Walls One retaining wall will be built on the road
side of the site.
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Construction was planned to start in May of 2020 but due to the unforeseen
Geotechnical Characterization
Much of the geotechnical information for this site is unknown as some of the soil
samples were confiscated when traveling back to the United States. Only two samples
made it back. Both of these samples were disturbed, therefore we have no samples to
Subsurface Profile
We have a basic idea of the subsurface profile of the site based on the site visit
and research of previous projects in Honduras. Borings B-1 to B-4 revealed around 1
foot to 4 feet of sandy soil before auger refusal. The area around the site has many
Two penetration tests were executed but due to a missing cone, a modified
the dynamic cone penetration test values to standard penetration test values due to the
Covid-19 outbreak. One calibration was done but due to incorrect testing procedures,
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the results are inaccurate. Under the observation that the standard cone tip will be
more resistant than the modified cone bit leading to an increased number of blows with
the standard tip. Therefore, our values will be considered a conservative estimate due to
maximum allowable bearing capacity of 2000 psf for the foundations and retaining wall.
For the complete boring logs, please see the Exploration Results section. Below is a
Groundwater Conditions
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Geotechnical Overview
Based on the information from our investigation, the site can be developed for
the proposed bridge and retaining wall. Although, the following geotechnical
● Rock Excavation- Due to the nature of our borings, there is sure to be rock that
we run into when constructing the foundations and retaining walls. It is unsure
whether this rock is bedrock or not but for now it is assumed to be boulders.
Earthwork
The fill material that will be used for the approach on both sides of the bridge will
be local river soil that will allow for optimum drainage in high water conditions. The
roadside approach requires 275 square feet of fill to produce a 10% slope. The clinic
side approach will require 279 square feet of fill to produce a 10% slope. These fill
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Shallow Foundations
The proposed bridge design will include two strip footings, one on each side of
the bridge. The base of each footing will be 5’ x 6’ x 1’ .The entire height of the
foundation will be 10’ tall and approximately 3’ will be below ground surface. The top of
Some considerations for the foundation and retaining wall construction is the rock
within the soil at the site. There were large boulders discovered in the boreholes which
Deep Foundations
There is no need for any deep foundations for this project.
Seismic Considerations
There are no seismic considerations for this project.
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General Comments
This report was based upon research of past projects, site visits, and educated
assumptions due to missing data. Let it be known that site conditions could change due
to natural causes such as weather or due to the construction. Not included in our scope
is environmental or biological investigations of the site. Please note that this report is
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Attachments
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We had access to two samples from the bridge site in Bacadilla, Honduras.
Both samples were taken from the clinic side of the river. We started our soil testing by
pulverizing each sample to remove any large clumps. This step was needed for both the
sieve analysis and the Atterberg limits tests. We then weighed out a decent portion of
the soil. This allowed us to have enough for our tests but also enough left over to use in
case something went wrong with the tests. These samples were classified using the
Sample 1
percent passing each sieve. The data gathered from sample 1 is included in figure 1.
coefficient and the coefficient of curvature. We plotted the grain size distribution which is
included in figure 2. Using this graph, we were able to calculate the coefficients we
needed to classify the soil. The uniformity coefficient is 12 but the coefficient of
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Sample 2
test. Once we exhausted the percent passing information, we looked at the uniformity
coefficient and the coefficient of curvature. Using figure 4, we were able to calculate the
coefficients we needed to classify the soil. The uniformity coefficient is 10.67 which
satisfies the requirements but, the coefficient of curvature is 0.91. This information
helped us determine the sample is poorly graded. After following the USCS chart with
the sieve analysis data, we used the Atterberg limits data to finish classifying the
sample. Using the values calculated for liquid limit and plasticity index, we plotted the
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sample of the plasticity chart, shown in figure 8, and gathered that the sample is a
Mass of dry
sample: 370.5
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ource: https://www.nzgs.org/library/nzgs20_hind/)
Figure 8: Casagrande Plasticity Chart (S
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46
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Exploration Results
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SUBSURFACE
LOG Page 1 of 1
49
SUBSURFACE
LOG Page of
96.23’ 4’ Refusal
50
SUBSURFACE
LOG Page of
51
SUBSURFACE
LOG Page of
99.23’ 1’ Soil 1’
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Appendix E.1: Beam Choice 28 Apr 2020 15:52:30 - Beam_Selection_Calculations.sm
BEAM SELECTION CALCULATIONS
Loadings
L_b 20 ft
L 80 ft
Deflection Calculations
W24x68
4
I_xx 1830 in
E 29000 ksi
4 3
5 ped_load L 12
Δ_LL 0.5427 in GOOD
384 E I_xx
W21x62
4
I_xx 1330 in
4 3
5 ped_load L 12
Δ_LL 0.7467 in GOOD
384 E I_xx
1/1
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Appendix E.2: Splice Design 29 Apr 2020 19:01:54 - Splice_Design_Calculations.sm
SPLICE DESIGN CALCULATIONS
2
Outer_Ag 4.485 in
PWeb_t 0.5 in
I. Factored Loadings
M_u_Positive 1.25 DC_M 1.75 LL_M 444.375 kip ft
M_u_Negative 0.9 DC_M 90 kip ft
M_service_positive DC_M 1.3 LL_M 337.25 kip ft
M_service_negative DC_M 100 kip ft
V_service_positive DC_V 1.3 LL_V 6.136 kip
V_service_negative DC_V kip
2 2
A_n A_e 4.36 in 0.85 A_g_O 3.8165 in A_n A_g_O GOOD
1/3
54
29 Apr 2020 19:01:54 - Splice_Design_Calculations.sm
R_r_w 0.58 F_u A_vn_w F_u A_tn_w 0.8 566.6648 kip R_r_w V_r_w
GOOD
V. Slip Resistance
GOOD
Negative Shear Check
Service_Shear_n 1.82 kip Total_Strength Service_Shear_n
GOOD
2/3
55
29 Apr 2020 19:01:54 - Splice_Design_Calculations.sm
GOOD
Single Outer Plate
end_res 72.39 kip
single_design_force 217.91 kip
int_res 245.70 kip
single_resistance end_res int_res 318.09 kip
single_resistance single_design_force
GOOD
Inner Plate
end_res_i 64.35 kip inner_design_force 87.34 kip
int_res_i 129.31 kip
inner_resistance end_res_i int_res_i 193.66 kip
inner_resistance inner_design_force
GOOD
Web
end_web_res 69.96 kip web_design_strength 290.79 kip
interior_web_res 279.83 kip
web_resistance end_web_res interior_web_res 349.79 kip
web_resistance web_design_strength
GOOD
3/3
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Appendix E.3: Railing 29 Apr 2020 19:08:59 - Railing_Strength_Design.sm
1/1
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Appendix E.4: Foundation 29 Apr 2020 11:39:27 - FoundationCalcs3.sm
L 72 in C_L 60 in
B 48 in C_B 36 in
f'c 3000 psi
2000
qagross qagross 13.8889 psi
144
150
γconc γconc 0.0868 pci
1728
T 12 in
factor 1.4
q_u qanet factor q_u 17.9861
Column Bearing
2
A_1 C_B C_L A_1 2160 in
A_2 B L
ϕ_c 0.65
bearing__on__footing
A_2
ϕBn_1 ϕ_c 0.85 f'c A_1 6
A_1 ϕBn_1 4.5286 10 lb
bearing__on__column
1/3
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29 Apr 2020 11:39:27 - FoundationCalcs3.sm
C_L β 1.6667
β
C_B
b_0 2 C_B C_L 2 d_temp b_0 216
4 v_c2 240.9979
v_c2 2 f'c
β
v_c v_c3 v_c 170.4026 Set equal to the least of the three v_c's
a α_s2 4 a 4.1407
2
b b 4 a c d_s2
d_s2 0.8722 in
2 a
Flexure
d_temp2 6 in Set >= previous d's
longer__side,__L=72__in Shorter__Side,__L=48__in
B C_B
L C_L Lc_f1 6 in Lc_f2 Lc_f2 6 in
Lc_f1 2
2
2
2 q_u L Lc_f2
q_u B Lc_f1 Mu_1 1.295 k ft
2 Mu_2 1.9425 k ft
2 Mu_2
Mu_1 12000
12000
As_min_1 0.0018 L T_2 As_min_1 1.5552 in As_min_2 0.0018 B T_2 As_min_2 1.0368 in
Development__Length
Ensure that ld_1 <= (Lc_f1-3") Ensure that ld_2 <= (Lc_f2-3")
Set equal to the larger of As_min_1 and As_1 Set equal to the larger of As_min_2 and As_2
Distribution__of__Short__Bars
L
β_2 β_2 1.5
B
2
γs γs 0.8
β_2 1
3/3
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Appendix E.5: Thermal Expansion 29 Apr 2020 18:58:04 - Page1
Procedure A:
6
α 6.6 10 in /in / degrees F
L 80 12 960 in
T_max 120 degrees F
(World Record Temperatures)
T_min 0 degrees F
Procedure B:
T_min 45 degrees F
(June Climate History for Catacamas)
T_max 103 degrees F
1/1
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Appendix E.6: Beam-to-Abutment Connections
29 Apr 2020 19:55:35 - AbutmentCalcs_V2.sm
Tensile and Shear Strength of Bolts and Threaded Parts Minimum Bolt Strength
ϕR_n1s ϕ_1 F_ns A_b ϕR_n1t ϕ_1 F_nt A_b ϕR_n 0.25 d_l
ϕ_1 0.75 d_l 33 kip
F_nt 45 ksi
F_ns 27 ksi ϕR_n 8.25 kip
d_1 1 in
2
π d_1 2
A_b in
4
ϕ_2 0.70
μ 0.50
D_u 1.13
h_f 1.0
T_b 51 kip
n_s 1
ϕR_n2 20.1705 kip
ϕ_3 0.75
d 1.0 in
t 0.585 in
F_u 36 ksi
ϕR_n3 37.908 kip
ϕ_4 0.75
l_c 2.4375 in
t 0.585 in
F_u 36 ksi
ϕR_n4 46.2004 kip
1/1
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Appendix E.7: Loadings on Shoring 29 Apr 2020 16:15:27 - Page1
FALSEWORK SUPPORT DESIGN CALCULATIONS
lb
Dead_Load 70 DL_safety_factor 1.4
ft beam
lb bridge_width 3.3 ft
Construction_Load 50
2 tributary_width 27 ft
ft
Calculations
lb
factored_DL Dead_Load 2 DL_safety_factor 196
ft
lb
total_construction_load Construction_Load bridge_width 165
ft
tributary_width
Support_Load factored_DL total_construction_load 9.747 kip
1000
1/1
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Appendix F: Community Assessment
BACKGROUND
The community of Bacadillas, Honduras has requested assistance in the form of a bridge built to
connect the community (along with 11 other nearby communities) to a medical clinic across a
river. The clinic serves 3,165 people in 12 districts, taking care of medication, check-ups,
prenatal care, and more. The design team, along with designing said bridge, also wants to ensure
that a bridge is the right solution for the community, and that the community is able take care of
the bridge after it is built. As such, the team performed a community assessment to consolidate
community information gathered on-site and discuss what the right solution is for the
community.
SITE VISIT
In order to assess the community, one must interact with the community. Three members of the
design team travelled to Bacadillas, Honduras in November 2019 with students from Lipscomb
University. While there, they performed tests and collected measurements to design the bridge.
Significant time, however, was also dedicated to connecting with residents and leaders, to
understand the capabilities and dynamic of the community. This was accomplished through
casual interactions while working on data collection, as well as several meetings with various
groups.
Welcome Reception
The design team was kindly welcomed upon arrival to the community. Children from the
kindergarten school in the community joined in the reception, dancing to music and creating
their own music, visible in Figure 1. Louisa, the head nurse at the clinic who owns the clinic
land and has built a new wooden bridge every year after it is washed away, lead the reception.
She shared information about the clinic, the districts it serves, and introduced different
community leaders.
This reception also
emphasized the importance of having
a strong foundation of culture, as
emphasized in the Bridges to
Prosperity Bridge Builder Manual.
Visitors must be aware of local
culture, language, sociopolitical
history, and economics (Bridges to
Prosperity). A member of the design
team joined in the school children
Figure 1: A warm welcome who were dancing during the
reception. The team member was not
64
aware that in the religious culture observed by the community pastor, however, it is not
considered proper for adults to dance in such circumstances.
Community Leaders
The second meeting the team got to take part in was with the community leaders, including the
pastor, two of the clinic’s health promoters, the president of the committee of neighbors, a nurse
from the clinic, and Louisa. This meeting allowed for a dive into the inner workings of the
clinic. The leaders shared that the clinic serves around 30 patients per day, mostly seniors for
diabetes and hypertension, young children, and pregnant women. The furthest district is 28
kilometers away, and yet people from that district still reliably attend their appointments. This is
ensured by neighbors who lend car rides and the health promoters who make house visits to
check on the medical status of all community residents.
After the meeting, the design team got a tour of the clinic itself. The clinic is well-
outfitted to handle most minor medical events, as well as reliably provide medication. Any
major medical event or surgery, however, is taken into Catacamas, the city about 30 minutes
away from the clinic by car. On the walls of the clinic, the staff has a map of all 12 communities
and the houses within each, as seen in Figure 2. There are pins in each house to indicate the
medical conditions of any occupants. Detailed information such as this map show that the clinic
is serving its constituents well.
65
Neighbors
Next, the team met with those who live nearby the proposed build site. Several neighbors
offered to store materials in their house during construction. This could help preserve the
materials and minimize environmental impact of construction. The group of neighbors also told
of a bridge they built in the past across the river to connect the community to a soccer field. The
group then walked around and pointed out several high water marks from past flood events, to
flesh out the hydrologic analysis. The two neighbors living directly adjacent to the bridge site
were not able to make the meeting.
Community at Large
Each meeting was structured to gather information on the community and its structure while also
spending time asking about the desires and needs of the community. The large community
meeting allowed this on the biggest scale. The design team got to see the united nature of the
community, as many residents showed up and voiced their opinions, as seen in Figure 3. When
asked about their bond, residents said that they are “very united” and that it has “always been this
way.”
The team also learned
the importance of inquiring into
the community’s desires and
needs while also not offering the
world. When asked if they
wanted a roof to the bridge, they
said “yes!”. When asked if they
wanted motorcycles to be able to
traverse the bridge, they said
“yes!”. When asked how wide
they wanted the bridge, they said Figure 3: A community member speaking up during the
“2 meters!”. They were large community meeting
incredibly engaged, which is something to be very grateful for, but they naturally wanted the
bridge to be as amazing as it could possibly be.
Casual Interactions
Outside of the structured meetings, the design team also had many casual interactions with the
community. The temporary bridge installed by Louisa had worn out for the year, so residents
were navigating the riverbed to cross the river. The sides were often steep and unstable, visible
in Figure 4, and older residents were helped across by other members of the community. It was
already precarious during the dry season, putting into perspective how dangerous it could
become during the wet season.
66
Team members got to talk with residents who
would come watch the surveying, getting to know
several of the families of the community. At the end
of the trip, the team played a soccer game with
residents, seeing firsthand how the community comes
together and spends time amongst one another.
DISCUSSION
After getting to know the community on the site visit,
the design team took those interactions and applied
them to three questions concerning the bridge and its
design.
67
How will the design change to adapt to community needs?
Finally, the team had to be sure to make sure their design fully fit the community’s needs. The
original design plan was a suspended or suspension bridge, as they are cheaper and easy to build
given the site conditions and unknown construction timeline (it is difficult to build shoring
during the wet season in a fast-flowing river). However, there was potential for the tiebacks of
the cables to infringe upon the private property of the two families living directly adjacent to the
bridge. As the team was not able to speak to these families while in Bacadillas, the team
contacted Predisan asking if it was okay. Predisan asked the team to move away from a
suspension design. They did not want to infringe on private property, and they were also
concerned able acquiring the high-quality cables necessary for such a bridge. The design team
eventually settled on a stringer bridge, which best considered the needs of the community, as
well as constructability.
CLOSING
To ensure an effective bridge, the design team completed a community assessment. This
allowed the team to take the community’s desires and needs into consideration at every step. As
a result of the assessment, the bridge is deemed an effective solution, one that the community has
a stake in.
68
Appendix G: Environmental Assessment
This environmental impact assessment is an overview of carbon costs associated with this
project and the project’s influence on the surrounding ecosystem. Our goal was to create a design
that would have the minimum carbon output and have little local environmental impact. Based
on data from the World Steel Association, there is approximately 1.85-tonnes of CO2 emitted for
every tonnes of steel produced (Position Paper on Climate Change). However, recycling scrap
steel there is an approximate 0.464-tonnes of CO2 emissions per tonne of steel produced. (“The
Carbon Footprint of Steel”) The design consists of two 80-feet W24x68, resulting in
10,880-pounds of steel. There’s approximately 12-tonnes of steel within the design, this includes
all structural components, plates, and bolts. The steel used in the stringer design results in
approximately 22.2-tonnes of carbon. This bridge design is more conservative with respect to
total steel usage seen by the usage of wood railings rather than fully steel railings. Steel is also
one of the most recycled materials in the world (Steel is the World’s Most Recycle Material).
Using the recycled steel scrap CO2 conversion rate, the carbon emissions is approximately
5.57-tonnes. Using recycled material and minimizing total steel will reduce the carbon impact.
Other design considerations taken to minimize carbon emissions is the usage of as many
in-country and local resources. This not only minimizes transportation emissions, but also
supports the local economy. During the site visit in November, local hardware shops were visited
to determine available resources. Minimizing the haul distances reduces gas carbon emissions
and other international transport impacts.
This bridge is constructed across a river in rural Honduras in Bacadilas. The impacts on
the surrounding ecosystem is an important consideration for bridge location, design, and
construction methods. The Hondurand Emerald Hummingbird is the only recorded endangered
species in the region. This species preference for arid climates indicates the lack of likelihood
that the species will be near the bridge location (“Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and
Plants). Site access remains a critical factor in determining the feasibility of the project. Due to
the limited space on the roadside of the bridge location, it is necessary to have a bridge design
that minimizes impact to the surrounding properties.
A major consideration for construction is to manage erosion, water runoff, and
sedimentation. Some construction methods to reduce impacts on the environment are to utilize
perimeter control barriers if applicable, minimize the total disturbed area, and apply erosion
controls.It is already planned to store and stockpile materials in local community member’s
houses. This may reduce potential water pollution into the river. All of these aspects will
minimize the direct impact on the ecosystem during the bridge’s construction process.
69
Appendix H: Cost Assessment
70
Total Unit Total
Categorization Description Quantity Unit Quantity Cost/Unit Cost ($) Sources
Substructure Primary Bearing North End 21"x18"x0.5" steel bearing plates, 0.283 lb/cubic-in 2 1 lb 106.97 lbs $1.25/lb 133.72
Foundations Plates South End 21"x17"x0.5" steel bearing plates, 0.283 lb/cubic-in 2 1 lb 101.03 lbs $1.25/lb 126.29
Neoprene North End 1 cubic-
Pads 21"x18"x0.5" neoprene pads 2 in 378 cubic-in $1.00/cubic-in 378.00 (AASHTO Rubber)
South End 1 cubic-
21"x17"x0.5" neoprene pads 2 in 357 cubic-in $1.00/cubic-in 357.00 (AASHTO Rubber)
Anchor Bolts 1" diameter, 18" length anchor bolts 8 1 bolt 8 bolts $20.00/bolt 160.00 (1"x18" w/ 4" Thread)
Concrete North End 1 cubic-
115.5 cubic-ft concrete for footings, piers, and end walls 1 ft 115.5 cubic-ft $4.82/cubic-ft 556.71
South End 1 cubic-
123.0 cubic-ft concrete for footings, piers, and end walls 1 ft 123.0 cubic-ft $4.82/cubic-ft 592.86
Rebar North End 217.8' of #6 rebar for footings, piers, and end walls, 1.502 lb/ft 1 1 lb 327.14 lbs $1.00/lb 327.14
South End 239.3' of #6 rebar for footings, piers, and end walls, 1.502 lb/ft 1 1 lb 359.43 lbs $1.00/lb 359.43
Ramp Rebar 134' of #4 rebar, 0.668 lb/ft 1 1 lb 89.51 lbs $1.00/lb 89.51
Foundations Concrete 1 cubic-
200 cubic-ft concrete 1 ft 200 cubic-ft $4.82/cubic-ft 964.00
Excavation Excavation for substructure 1 1 cubic-ft 598 cubic-ft $1.11/cubic-ft 663.78
Overall 30,770.69
Superstructure 26,062.25
SUMMARY
Girders 14,280.00
Splices 1,365.88
Cross-Framing 700.27
Railing 1,820.14
Decking 5,884.40
Ramps 2,011.56
Substructure 4,708.44
Primary Foundations 2,991.15
Ramp Foundations 1,053.51
Excavation $1.11/cubic-ft 663.78
71
Appendix I: Design Documents PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
EXISTING
BRIDGE
PROPOSED BRIDGE
CLINIC
80' SPAN
28' (TYP.)
8' (TYP.)
DECK EL. = 106.6'
NAILER BOARD AND DECKING
APPROACH RAMP
L3 X 3 X 1/2
ENDWALL W24 X 68 SPLICE AT 31 SPAN LENGTH C7 x 9.8
BOTTOM BRIDGE EL. = 104.4'
3' FREEBOARD HWL EL. = 101.4' NEOPRENE PAD
ABUTMENT
EXISTING GROUND
EXISTING GROUND
ELEVATION VIEW
80' SPAN
28'
W24 X 68 SPLICE AT 31 SPAN LENGTH
ENDWALL
BOTTOM BRIDGE EL. = 104.4'
ABUTMENT
EXISTING GROUND
SOUTH FOUNDATION
BASE EL. = 97.5'
TEMPORARY FALSEWORK
(BY CONTRACTOR)
3'
1' 3'
1'
ENDWALL G
2' - 4"
H ENDWALL
2' - 4"
TOP EL. = 104.3'' I
C
TOP EL. = 104.3' D
J
4' - 4"
5' - 4"
G
4' - 10"
E
5' - 10"
F
G
1'
GL = 99.5'
A
1'
1'
B A
4'
1'
B
4'
ELEVATION:
NORTH FOUNDATION, SOUTH FOUNDATION,
ABUTMENT, ENDWALL ABUTMENT, ENDWALL
H ENDWALL
C ENDWALL
2' - 4"
2' - 4"
#6 REBAR AT
3' #6 REBAR AT
12" SPACING
12" SPACING
ABUTMENT
4' - 4'
5' - 4"
4' - 10"
5' - 10"
F
G
6'
5'
F
GL = 100' ABUTMENT
1'
GL = 99.5'
1'
1'
ABUTMENT
A B FOUNDATION 4' FOUNDATION
1'
6'
PLAN A B FOUNDATION
6'
(REBAR NOT SHOWN)
SECTION:
NORTH FOUNDATION, SOUTH FOUNDATION,
ABUTMENT, ENDWALL ABUTMENT, ENDWALL
5' 5'
ENDWALL ENDWALL
12"
12"
1.5"
21" 21"
1 81" DIAMETER HOLE
6"
3" 3"
18"
16.5"
24"
24"
1 1/8"
9"
2 1/2"
14.25" 6" 6"
BEARING
BEARING
EL. = 104.4'
EL. = 104.4'
27" 27"
PLAN VIEW: SOUTH
PLAN VIEW: NORTH
ABUTMENT, GIRDER
ABUTMENT, GIRDER
ATTACHMENT
ATTACHMENT
27"
5
16" WELDED FILLET
BEARING
EL. = 104.4'
1
2"STEEL
1 BASE PLATE
2"
THICK
NEOPRENE PAD
1" DIAMETER
ANCHOR BOLT
18"
5'
12"
CONNECT SLAB TO 16" STEP WHERE
DECKING NEEDED (TYP.)
CONCRETE FOOTER A
ABUTMENT
B
16" STEP WHERE
NEEDED (TYP.) ROCK FILL FOUNDATION
6'
4'
42" MIN
CONCRETE FOOTER
#4 REBAR, MID-DEPTH 18" - 24"
SECTION AA
SECTION BB
9"
14.5" 4.25" A
7" K
0.5" B
A B C
3"
1.75" 3" 2.25" B
B 1.75"
15.5"
3"
D
C
15.5"
20"
D
B B
B 1.75" 5.5" A
B
3" A SPLICE
2.25"
1.75" D CROSS SECTION
9"
18.5"
SPLICE
ELEVATION VIEW
I
3"
G
3"
F
11"
20"
F
J H
"
18
K
DIAPHRAGM
SECTION VIEW CROSS-FRAMING
PLAN VIEW
27"
8' (TYP.)
E
PLAN VIEW
69"
DECKING
CONNECT ANGLE TO
NAILER AND POST
WITH SCREWS
C 7 X 9.8 C 7 X 9.8
W24 X 68
ELEVATION VIEW
DECK SCREWS TO
40" BRIDGE WIDTH CONNECT DECKING TO
NAILER BOARD. MIN. 6
SCREWS PER MEMBER
PER SIDE
NAILER BOARD
2" DECKING NAILER
1
L 3 X 3 X (TYP.) CONNECT BOARD
2 A WITH
A
20" X 4.25" X SCREWS
1 PLAN VIEW BB
2" STIFFENER
AT 8'
SPACING
18"
3.5" (TYP.)
14.5"
C 7 X 9.8
A325 BOLTS
SECTION VIEW
4' SPACING
NAILER BOARD
PLAN VIEW AA