WEBINAR - FIU Pedestrian Bridge Collapse: Testing of Full-Size Replicas of Failed Connection

WJE carried out independent studies related to the 2018 collapse of the FIU Pedestrian Bridge in Miami. Most significantly, WJE developed and tested full-sized specimens to evaluate the significance of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB’s) finding that the construction joint between the northernmost diagonal and deck was left in an as-placed condition, rather than intentionally roughened as required by the project specifications. The webinar also describes WJE’s independent review of shear friction strength in accordance with the AASHTO Code.

NTSB is scheduled to present their investigation of the collapse at the General Session of the Committee on Bridges and Structures meeting on June 1. However, the investigation by NTSB and FHWA did not include testing to evaluate the relationship between surface preparation and shear-friction strength.

The presentation describes the details of the experimental program that demonstrated that, had the construction joint been roughened as required by the project specifications, the collapse would not have occurred. Contrary to NTSB’s findings, the contractor’s failure to roughen the surface was the primary cause of the collapse.

The presenter will be: Gary J Klein, Executive Vice President and Senior Principal, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE)