Analysis of Large Truck Collisions with Bridge Piers: Phase 1 Report

This report presents an analysis of large truck collisions with bridge piers, focusing on Phase 1 of the project. The research investigates the impact of truck collisions, which are a significant cause of bridge destruction worldwide, and aims to improve bridge pier design and construction to mitigate damage. The report details the project's objectives, which include understanding the collision process and developing better construction solutions. The author's role involved calculating shear force, identifying the critical angle of impact, and researching cement aging properties. The report describes the application of engineering knowledge, including structural details, architectural features, and shear strength calculations based on international standards. Key findings include the identification of a 45-degree shear plane and the consistent nominal shear capacity of the piers studied. The report also addresses challenges such as the lack of case studies and outlines solutions, including collaboration with the local transport department. The author's contribution involved shear force calculations and documentation, culminating in recommendations for improved construction techniques to enhance bridge safety.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 2
AHMAD SEYER

CE 2.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Analysis of Large Truck Collisions with Bridge Piers: Phase 1.
Report of Guidelines for Designing Bridge Piers and Abutments for Vehicle Collisions
Location of the project: [PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: [PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member
CE 2.2 Project Background
CE 2.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The project had been developed for the learning of the effect for the truck accidents on
the bridge piers. The report has been prepared for the working procedure of Phase 1 of an
analysis of the impact on the piers when the trucks collide with them. The truck collision has
become the 3rd leading cause of the destruction of the bridges around the world. This has raised
concern for many of the construction department on how the working of the piers and the
construction of the piers should be made to find the best suitable and production of the bridge
piers along with an innovative production procedure for the reduction of the bridge accidents
caused by the trucks.

CE 2.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
The following objectives had been developed during the implementation of the project:
 To achieve the understanding procedure of the collision process of the trucks along the
bridge piers.
 To develop a better solution for the construction of the bridge piers for the reduction of the
crash scenarios.
CE 2.2.3 My area of work
For the development of the research project I was responsible for the calculation of the
shear force, the turning point for the finding and the calculation of the better understand the
ability of the working of collision test. This helped me and my teammates to find the best angle
that would be used for detecting the angle when the collision occurs on the piers.

CE 2.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: The hierarchy of the project
CE 2.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
For the project, I was responsible for finding the effective procedure that would help me
and my teammates to calculate the shear force for the piers along with the implementation of the
cement ageing property and the angle of the collision the truck is hitting the pier. After the
calculations were made, the research reports were made along with the theoretical data found
during the calculations. I had also helped my teammates to complete the work and provide the
best quality research project to my university.

CE 2.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 2.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
During the development of the project study, I found that most of the bridge piers
accidents had been caused due to the large shear force along with the bending of the piers. The
piers suffer a lot of catastrophic failures regarding structure on the piers. For the development of
the project, I had conducted a lot of research on different case studies of various accidents that
occurred around the world causing substantial scale effect on the destruction of the piers.
Typically during the course of the truck collision, the point of action is close to the ground level.
The large force exerted by the truck is almost equal to the bending force of the pier can
withstand. The major problem arises when the shear capacity of the pier get exceeded by the
force of the collision from the trucks. For the better understanding of the working of the shear
force on the piers, a capacity analysis was done on the piers.
CE 2.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
For the development of the research, I had researched the piers and found the procedure
in which the piers were constructed. I had used the theory of the shear force application in my
calculations and findings to implement a better working procedure of the project. This helped me
to produce a good quality research work. The structural details of the piers were assessed using
the theories taught to me during my bachelor degree in civil engineering. The architectural
features of the piers were found out and calculated to find the problems with the construction
procedure. The nominal shear strength was calculated with the help of an international standard
bridge design specification. The capacities were based on two different failure planes based on
resisting forces. The angle of effect was found to be 45 degrees from the point of applied force of

impact point on the piers. The failure mechanism shown in figure 2 below was found out from
the point of impact of the large truck on the pier. For the calculation of the pier shear force, the
structural designing of the piers were implemented. An assumption was made for the calculation
pertained to the use of higher estimation of strength from the ageing of the concrete in the piers.
Apart from this for extensive research, I had conducted the shear capacity calculation of different
pier sizes. This helped me to the device the best possible way to construct a pier that would have
less amount of impact on the pier when a truck collides.
Figure 2: the mechanism in the pillars are constructed.
CE 2.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
The calculated shear strengths have been found to be the ultimate factor for the piers that
have been considered for the inclusion of the passive compressive strength of the concrete. Apart
from this the spiral reinforcement and the shear planes had been calculated for the piers which
have been found to be around 45 degrees. During my investigation of the piers for my research, I
found that most of the piers had been involved in the accidents on the highroads have the similar
kind of failure mechanism I had already seen beforehand. For all the piers were investigated for

the research purpose, it was found that all the piers had a consistent nominal shear capacity was
almost equal to 400 kips.
CE 2.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
2.3.4.1 Issues
The major issue which I had faced during the initial phase of the research was to find an
adequate amount of case studies highlighting the accidents occurring around the city. This
unavailability of resources made the understanding of the working procedure of the shear force
on the piers.
2.3.4.2 Solutions
The best solution was received from our project supervisor who had helped us to get in
contact with the local transport department. They provided us with the best case studies and
reports of the accidents that have occurred around the city. Upon thorough research and study, I
was able to find the effective procedure to calculate the shear force exerted on the piers.
CE 2.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
I had used the theory of the shear force application in my calculations and findings to
implement a better working procedure of the project. This helped me to produce a good quality
research work. Apart from this, the study conducted by me on the case studies supplied by the
transport department helped to find out the construction procedure in the piers that were created.
This, in turn, helped me to calculate the best way to construct a pier with less impact on them
and also the shear angle with which the trucks are hitting the pier to provide the maximum effort
to make the pier get misbalanced.

CE 2.3.6 Collaborative work
I had collaborated with my teammates and my project supervisor for the completion of
the project report. I had also received help from the local transport department who had helped
me to study the case studied of all the different road accidents that had occurred around the city.
This became the case studies that were being followed by me during the working of the project
report. I had also researched how to innovate the idea of working on the construction techniques
for the working of the piers to be accident resistant.
CE 2.4 Project Review
CE 2.4.1 Project Overview
From the research project, it has been found that the two shear planes that radiate from
the point of impact on the piers have been found to be at an angle of 45 degrees from the
horizontal point of reference. Upon the complete investigation, it had been found that the shear
force calculated was similar to the shear force that applied to the accident case studies.
CE 2.4.2 My contribution to work
For the submission of the best quality research project, I had taken up the work of
calculating the shear force with which the trucks hit the piers during the accident. With the help
of this calculations, I was able to find the best construction procedure and the angle at which it
becomes critical for the piers ton break upon the impact from the impact of the truck on accident.
On completing the research procedures and methodologies, I had taken up the work of
completing the documentation. All relevant topics of discussion along with the calculation were
compiled into the documentation for submission.