●A Case of Utilizing Results

Publication of Evaluation Guidelines for New Road
Bridge Technologies (Draft)
TAMAKOSHI Takashi, HeadNAKASU Keita, Senior Researcher
ISHIO Mari, researcher
Road Department, Bridge and Structures Division(Key words) Highway bridges, new technologies, performance evaluation method, guidelines
1. Introduction
In recent years, examples of the contract methodwith technical proposal have been increasingly
introduced, and on the other hand, examples of theadoption of ‘new technologies’ applying to materials,
structures, and design methods not specified in theTechnical Standards for Bridges and Highway Bridges(below called, “Specifications for Highway Bridges”)
have also increased.
Specifications for Highway Bridges regulate“standard methods” assuming that performances suchas the required safety allowances are surely obtained,
based on the required performance and past researchand experiences. However, they do not indicate averification method or concrete evaluation standards
to verify that the performances of the newtechnologies equivalent to or greater than cases basedon “standard methods” are obtained.. Therefore,
verification methods and the contents are set
separately with reference to each condition in practicelevels, and the verifications matching with standards
are conducted through a process of trial and error,(below called, “performance verification”).
In response to these background circumstances, theNILIM has published guidelines as universal andpractical references focused on main items and points
to remember when conducting individual performanceverifications. (Technical Note of the National Institutefor Land and Infrastructure Management No. 609,
Guideline to Research Concerning Road Bridge
Technology Evaluation Methods and New Technology
Evaluations (Draft), September 2010).
2. Framework and Outline of Evaluation Guideline
for New Technologies[1] Part I, Common
In Part I, items necessary to verify performance
individually by experiments or analyses and thebasic concepts of the new technology evaluations
are indicated from No.4 to No.8 of Part I as
shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Framework of evaluation guideline for new techniques, Part I

Part I Common
1. Basics of new technology evaluation
2. Selection evaluation methods

3.
4.

Perspective of technology evaluation
Deviation from the range of standard specification

5.

Materials and structures with characteristics different fromstandard regulations(Examples) Deck slab span length, abbreviation of members(Examples) Application of high strength reinforcing bars toconcrete members
Welding steel unstandardized as welding structures

6.

Design principles and mechanisms different from standard
regulations(Examples) Welding joints unstandardized in ‘Fatigue design
guidelines for steel road bridges’
Structures abbreviating cross frames or lateralbracing
Shear connector mechanisms other than stud shear
connectors

7.

Construction conditions different from standard regulations(Example) Effects of concrete placement of steel-concrete
composite slabs

8.

Conditions for maintenance different from standard
regulations(Example) Steel-concrete composite slabs and weather resistantsteel materials[2] Part II, Case Examples of New Technology
Evaluation
Part II indicates examples of road bridge
verification items and performance verification
methods using new technologies studied in recent
years in order to design and construct roadbridges based on ‘Specifications for Highway
Bridges’. Even new technologies not included inthese examples are considered to lead to more
complete performance verifications by referring
to common parts such as focus points and points
to remember.
[3] Part III. Examples of preparation of evaluationmanuals
Part III indicates examples of setting specificverification items and performance verification
methods referring to examples of PC box girder
bridges with corrugated steel web andsteel-concrete composite slabs. It can be used as areference for methods of establishing plans toevaluate new construction methods.
3.

Summary
We hope that the guideline will help provide society
with infrastructure with high reliability as further
appropriate technology evaluations referring to thebasic concepts and examples of new technology
evaluation in the guideline are established. .