by Becky Andrus | Sep 9, 2020 | Uncategorized
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
CONTACT: Dan Weingarten, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-4809
[email protected]
MDOT research into carbon fiber bridge components
gains national recognition
Fast facts:
– The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) pioneered incorporating carbon fiber into bridge designs, building the nation’s first carbon fiber bridge in 2001.
– Carbon fiber components are similar to steel in strength, but they resist corrosion and require less maintenance over time.
– After four years of extensive research by MDOT and Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, bridge designers now have the information they need to predict how carbon fiber components perform under a variety of real-world conditions and the design tools for future bridge projects.
– The project was recently named one of the top 16 research efforts of 2020 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
September 9, 2020 — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and university researchers have subjected a high-tech material to trial by fire and ice in a quest for better bridge components.
Steel has historically been the go-to material for reinforcing and pre-tensioning concrete for highway bridges. Steel adds much-needed strength, but it is prone to corrosion and deterioration under assault from extreme temperatures, water, and deicing chemicals. Preventing corrosion and repairing damaged areas require maintenance time and resources.
MDOT and Lawrence Technological University (Lawrence Tech) in Southfield have pioneered an innovative alternative to steel in critical bridge applications: using carbon fiber components. Carbon fiber strands have a tensile strength comparable to steel, but they resist corrosion and require less maintenance over time.
Under the direction of Dr. Nabil Grace, dean of the College of Engineering at Lawrence Tech, the school’s Center for Innovative Materials has been researching carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) since 1988, funded through multiple research awards from the National Science Foundation and MDOT.
“In 2001, Lawrence Tech, MDOT and the City of Southfield worked together on the deployment of the first three-span CFRP pre-stressed concrete bridge in the country,” Grace said. The Bridge Street Bridge was outfitted with a variety of sensors and will be monitored by MDOT until 2025.
“CFRP has performed well in the field but its long-term durability wasn’t fully understood,” said Matthew Chynoweth, MDOT chief bridge engineer and director of MDOT’s Bureau of Bridges and Structures.
Carbon fiber components lacked a track record in transportation infrastructure. Also, engineers lacked the technical specs they needed to optimize the CFRP design process and encourage more widespread use of the material. So, beginning in 2013, MDOT again collaborated with Lawrence Tech, this time to test the short- and long-term performance of CFRP strands and beams under a wide range of conditions.
During four years of extensive research, carbon fiber components were subjected to 300 freeze-thaw cycles, combined fire/loading events, severe weather, and other trials. Now, bridge designers have the information and specifications they need to predict how CFRP will perform under a variety of real-world conditions, as well as the design tools for future bridge projects.
“This research allowed us to test every question we had about CFRP and get good data so that we can continue to design bridges that are as safe and durable as normal steel bridges but without steel’s corrosive limitations,” Chynoweth said.
The data from this research confirm what proponents of CFRP have long theorized. Investigators found that CFRP strands held up well to conditions that simulated Michigan’s harsh weather. Moisture, rain, freezing rain, and extreme temperature swings did not significantly affect the material’s strength or mechanical properties over time. In addition, test results showed that some currently accepted parameters for CFRP are conservative and can be updated.
The research generated criteria, guidelines, and recommendations to make MDOT’s design and construction of highway bridges using CFRP components more efficient. Additionally, researchers prepared design examples, valuable reference tools for bridge designers.
These efforts have already received recognition. The study was recently chosen as one of the highest value transportation research projects in the nation. The Research Advisory Committee at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) named it one of the top 16 research projects of 2020. It is a significant national endorsement of work Michigan has been doing for 20 years.
“Recently, AASHTO published its first design specification for CFRP pre-stressed concrete bridge elements, and this was mostly inspired by the work Dr. Grace has done for the past 30 years,” Chynoweth said.
Practical applications are expanding, as well. Backed by previously unavailable real-world data for CFRP, engineers are making use of the material. Since the first carbon fiber components were used in 2001, more than a dozen bridges have been built throughout the state using CFRP pre-stressing and post tensioning. Some recent examples include the southbound I-75 span over the Sexton-Kilfoil Drain in Detroit, incorporating the longest CFRP pre-stressed beams, at 140 feet; and two bridges being built as part of MDOT’s I-94 modernization project, also in Detroit.
What’s the future outlook for carbon fiber in MDOT bridge design? One barrier to wider adoption is the cost of materials.
“Cost is always an issue. That is why we only do a few bridges per year,” Chynoweth said. “However, one of our main suppliers, Tokyo Rope, built a fabrication facility in Michigan, which has cut down on some costs and delivery times for CFRP.”
Thanks to a deeper understanding of carbon fiber materials, bridge designers are closer to realizing their goal of building longer-lived bridges. A bridge with a minimum 100-year service life is an MDOT, as well as a national, target. AASHTO’s new specification for bridge design focuses on promoting innovative materials to achieve these longer life spans.
“Since CFRP is non-corrosive, we are eliminating the potential of concrete deterioration from steel corrosion, which is the major cause of shorter service lives on bridges,” Chynoweth said.
A summary of the report on CFRP in bridge designs is available on the MDOT website, as well as the full final report. For more details on Michigan’s bridges, go to www.Michigan.gov/Bridges.
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The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in partnership with Lawrence Technological University prestressed concrete beams with strands of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and then subjected them to fire/loading tests to evaluate their durability. (Lawrence Technological University photo)
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Lawrence Technological University conducted a variety of experiments to evaluate the short- and long-term performance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Here, scaled-down bridge beams using CFRP are being readied to undergo multiple freeze-thaw cycles. (Lawrence Technological University photo)
Carbon fiber strands being installed on the M-102 bridge deck in Wayne County in 2014.
(MDOT photo)
Carbon fiber strands being installed on the M-102 bridge deck in Wayne County in 2014.
(MDOT photo)
by Becky Andrus | Sep 9, 2020 | Uncategorized
Eligible Job Seekers Interested in Advanced Manufacturing Careers Can Enroll in Free Training through Oakland County
WATERFORD, Mich. – Sept. 4, 2020 – People interested in pursuing new, in-demand careers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic can prepare for opportunities in advanced manufacturing through free training programs offered by Oakland County Michigan Works! and Oakland Community College.
The programs offer training in careers that offer starting wages as high as $25 an hour.
“Many people who lost jobs due to COVID-19 are considering new opportunities as we recover economically,” said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “Oakland County Michigan Works! in partnership with OCC wants to put these people back to work in long-term, viable positions. Now is the time to take advantage of the free training being offered. Our goal, through the Oakland 80 initiative, is to have 80 percent of our residents obtain a post-secondary degree or industry credential by 2030. These programs are great opportunities to do that.”
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Robotics Technician Program class begins Sept. 14 and lasts 14 weeks. Nearly 140 people have completed the training program since it was launched in 2017, with many now working in the field. Eligible participants receive $7,000 in free tuition through Oakland County Michigan Works! in partnership with the U.S Department of Labor and Workforce Intelligence Network. Upon completion of the program, starting wages range from $15-$25 an hour.
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machine Operator Training Program cohort also starts in September at a date to be announced and lasts five weeks. Since its launch last year, 20 people have completed the training. The America’s Promise Grant provides eligible participants with $2,500 in free tuition. Upon completion of the training, starting wages range from $13-$18 per hour.
CNC students can earn up to four National Institute for Metalworking Skills Certifications: Measurement, Materials and Safety; Job Planning, Benchwork and Layout; CNC Mill Operator; and CNC Lathe Operator.
Due to the pandemic, classroom instruction for both training programs is remote, with some hands-on activities at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills. For more information and to determine eligibility, contact Kristen Charlton at (248) 232-4169 or Mona DeFrancesco at (248) 336-7793.
Applicant requirements for both programs include:
- U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
- Not currently registered in school within a local educational agency
- Registered with the Selective Service (if applicable)
- Unemployed or underemployed
- Other eligibility factors may apply
“People looking for a fresh start as the economy continues to open up in our state can take advantage of these two programs, which are free to eligible participants,” said Jennifer Llewellyn, director of Oakland County Michigan Works! “Employers across the region are looking for talented individuals with these skill sets and are hiring now.”
Oakland County Michigan Works! operates service centers in Novi, Oak Park, Pontiac, Southfield, Troy and Waterford. Combined, they assist more than 105,000 job seekers annually. Services include career coaching, interviewing and job search workshops, placement assistance, training courses and job trend information.
The service centers also assist more than 3,000 employers with talent recruitment, apprenticeship programs, job fairs, candidate pre-screening, hiring and training support, layoff support and labor market data.
Service center staff are available by virtual appointment to work one-on-one with job seekers to build their resumes, prepare for job interviews and help address other needs. To schedule a virtual meeting, call 1-248-858-5520 and select the office nearest to you. Service centers are hosting several virtual workshops for job seekers. A schedule is found at www.OaklandCountyMIWorks.com.
