Abstract: A reinforcement apparatus for reinforcing a structure comprising at least one pier bearing on foundations, a cross-beam bearing on said pier and at least one structure element located above the cross-beam, the reinforcement apparatus comprising at least one column (20) destined to surround the pier at least partly, to be mechanically coupled to the pier and to bear on said foundations, and at least one transverse beam (22) fixed relative to the column and destined to be mechanically coupled to the cross-beam, and at least one load transfer element (36) arranged on an upper face of said at least one transverse beam (22) to take up at least part of the load of the structure element.

Abstract: Modular structure for protecting an offshore vessel in a body of water from forces of ice features in the body of water is described. The modular protective structure comprising a protective harbor wall constructed and arranged to enclose a harbor space and to counteract the forces of ice features in the body of water. The modular protective structure also comprising a flotation support supporting the protective harbor wall. The flotation support having a capacity to position the modular protective structure at a raised position where the flotation support maintains at least a portion of the protective harbor wall above the water surface such that a harbor is established and the offshore vessel is protected from the forces of ice features in the body of water. Methods which utilize such a modular protective harbor structure are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method of installation of a pipe in fixed association with at least one stanchion, said stanchion having a universal pipe mount for fixing the distance from a pipe inserted into the pipe holder to a mounting surface, and when two or more stanchions and associated pipe holders are used to insert a pipe, the distance between the pipe holders and the mounting surface create a pitch of the pipe in the direction of the sink and away from the source of a liquid insures the proper rate of gravitational flow of the liquid therein.

Abstract: A floating step placed adjacent a side of a swimming pool having a flap on one end for attaching to the side of the swimming pool and a landing or platform. The animal rescue step has a foam core covered by a waterproof fabric and floats adjacent to the side of the swimming pool. The flap has a hole there in used to attached the floating step adjacent the side of the swimming pool. The lowermost step has an attached landing or platform that has a run greater than that of a step and when positioned in the swimming pool is covered with water. A small animal may swim onto the landing and easily climb the steps out of the swimming pool.

Abstract: A large-span and special-shaped arch bridge, comprising a main girder (2), a center abutment (11) served as a central bearing point and two auxiliary abutments (12,13) served as bearing points at two ends, wherein further comprising an arch-axis combination (3) and two arch-axis bending beams (4,5) presented as arcs projected upwards, the arch-axis combination being built on the center abutment (11) with two ends connected to the inner ends of the two arch-axis bending beams (4,5), the outer ends of the two arch-axis bending beams (4,5) being built on the two auxiliary abutments (12,13), the two arch-axis bending beams (4,5) being connected to the main girder (2) via a plurality of inhaul cables. A method for constructing said arch bridge is also disclosed.

Abstract: Abutment and bridge designs include a bridge superstructure and abutment wherein the abutment has a vertical portion of a backwall that can be fixedly joined to the end face of the bridge superstructure without an interdisposed expansion joint. A downward facing surface of the bridge superstructure can be fixedly joined to an upward facing surface of the abutment, or alternatively, a bearing pad may be disposed therebetween. The abutment may further comprise a backwall made from a plurality of panels fixedly joined to a plurality of supporting piles. The abutments and bridge superstructure may be made substantially from composite materials including recycled structural composite and other thermoplastics.

Abstract: An upper structure for a bridge includes a coping placed on the top end of a pier, and a girder held by the coping, wherein a side surface of the coping and an end surface of the girder are configured as inclined surfaces (or vertical surfaces), wherein a shear key protrudes on one of the inclined surfaces (or vertical surfaces), and a shear key slot is formed in another one of the inclined surfaces (or vertical surfaces) so as to be engaged with the shear key. The present disclosure can reduce the construction cost, can realize improved structural efficiency of the bridge upper structure, can realize an easy installation of the girders, can easily combine the girders with the coping without plastering or fixing with mortar by site work, and can efficiently resist to a shear stress that may be generated in the bridge.

Abstract: A flange connection system for a concrete structure comprising a plurality of adjacent precast concrete members including a platform having a center panel and a first and second flange extending outward from the center panel in opposing directions. The system includes a first and second bent plate each having a horizontal member attached to the bottom surface of the adjacent flanges and a vertical member perpendicular to the horizontal member. The system includes a spacer plate extending in a vertical direction from about a lower edge of the first vertical member to below the first horizontal member and secured between the vertical members of the first and second bent plate with a plurality of fasteners. The first and second vertical member may flex at an upper portion allowing adjacent flange ends to move relative to one another.

Abstract: An upper structure for a bridge includes a coping placed on the top of a pier, and girders held by the coping, wherein the coping has girder holding grooves. The girders are installed continuously without using bridge bearings. The coping and the girders behave in an integrated state. The girders are held by being fitted into the grooves, so the coping is not excessively exposed to the outside. The girders and the coping are dry joined together in a prestressed state using prestressed steel strands. Further, the girders and the coping can be integrated with each other without being processed by site work.

Abstract: A system and method for replacing existing deteriorated piers of bridges in the same location as the existing pier, without the use of temporary bents comprising the steps of: installing one or more drilled shaft, preferably round, columns in the earth on opposite sides of the existing pier to be replaced transverse to the axis of the bridge; installing at least one temporary support bracket or embedded support beam on each of the columns; installing a temporary transverse girder onto the support brackets or beams of two columns; installing temporary support posts on the transverse girder; transferring the load from the pier to the temporary transverse girders once the columns have attained adequate strength; removing the pier to an elevation below the cap; constructing a new cap; transferring the load from the temporary girders to the new cap once the cap has attained adequate strength; and removing the temporary supports.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites having a web section disposed along a horizontal axis and at least one flange section disposed along a horizontal axis parallel thereto and integrally molded to engage the top or bottom surface of the web section, wherein said composite is formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, poly-styrene, or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bridge assembly is made up of stackable components that are arranged together to span substantially any size and type of geological formation. The bridge assembly is made up of one or more support columns having respective saddle members at their upper ends. Each saddle member has a lower bearing surface that engages the support column and permits variations in their relative positioning. Each saddle member further has an upper bearing surface for receiving at least one cross beam having a lower bearing surface, which bearing surfaces permit movement between a given saddle member and the cross beams it supports. The bridge components can be pre-formed out of concrete, and are typically assembled by stacking the various components.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for protecting supporting structures, such as those of a bridge or other such marine supporting structure, from the force of an impact of a vehicle/vessel. Such a system includes a plurality of modular components arranged in series and configured to dissipate the energy of the force through the progressive buckling of one or more of the modular components. Each modular component contains an energy dissipation unit that includes a plurality of adjacent cells. The energy of the force is dissipated in the buckling of the walls of the cells of the energy dissipation units through the formation of one or more plastic hinges and/or volume reduction of the cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacing a bridge using pre-cast materials, including steel piles, steel reinforced concrete caps, and metallic male and female connectors. The pre-cast materials can be formed to precise standards in a controlled factory environment before being brought to the worksite for the bridge replacement project. Further, the male and female connectors provide for a quick and robust way to connect the caps to the piles without the use of welding between the piles and the caps.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and one or both of: (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, or (C) polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a rigid connection structure of a bridge pier and concrete girder, a joint-equipped PC concrete girder is constituted by burying a rear half part of a shaped-steel joint formed of short shaped-steel respectively in both ends of the concrete girder and protruding a front half part of each shaped-steel joint respectively from each end face of the concrete girder, the respective shaped-steel joint portions protruded from the respective end faces of the concrete girders are supported on a bridge abutment face of a bridge pier while being connected to a connection strip member which arises from the bridge abutment face, and the respective shaped-steel joint portions and the connection strip member are buried in connection concrete which is additionally casted on the bridge abutment face.

Abstract: The method for constructing precast coping for bridge enables for a segment to be match-cast manufactured at the top of a pier body. The method may be applied to small and medium size bridges by introducing transverse tendon force to each segment through tendons after manufacturing a subsegment which is match cast manufactured using sides of a pre-made segment as molding. Further, the method for constructing precast coping for bridge enables to construct precast coping for bridge by easily lifting the coping, which is assembled on the ground, using lifting lugs that are formed on the top of manufacturing segments.

Abstract: A method of improving earthquake resistance of existing spillway piers provided in a dam. The method includes a following step. End portions of a main beam and top portions of existing spillway piers are connected to each other with a high damping device having a history damping property with high primary rigidity. The high damping device has a yield displacement amount in seismic velocity smaller than a tolerance of a displacement amount of the existing spillway piers. The high damping device has a yield load value in seismic velocity greater than a maximum seismic force generated therein in a bridge-axis direction due to a large-scale earthquake.

Abstract: A replacement bent for shoring a bridge and a method for installing the replacement bent. The replacement bent comprises a metal I-beam sill, telescoping, adjustable posts, and a metal I-beam cap. In one embodiment, the adjustable posts are connected at one end by hinges to the sill beam and are connected at the other end by hinges to the cap beam. In a second embodiment, the adjustable posts are connected at right angles to the cap beam and the sill beam by means of support plates. The posts may be telescoped and thereby adjusted to the necessary distance between the sill beam and the cap beam. The replacement bent is supported on the stub piles from the substandard bent that has been removed.

Abstract: A bridge replacement method is disclosed. The bridge includes a deck supported by a pair of abutments, each abutment having wing walls. The deck is removed, footings are cast in holes dug behind each abutment and a pier is provided on each footing. Substantially parallel and coplanar cambered beams are provided. Each beam spans between and is supported by the piers. A brace assembly reinforces the beam camber. On each adjacent pair of beams, precast deck elements are placed, such that each element of said plurality spans the beam pair, to define at least transverse gaps between the elements and put the upper surfaces of the elements in compression in a transverse direction. The gaps are grouted. After grout curing, the brace is adjusted to reduce the beam camber and cause the upper surface of the elements to also be put into compression in a direction parallel to the beams.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a support structure for a transportation passageway supported by a column. The support structure includes a bearing, a bracket and a cap. The bearing includes an anchor, a bracket base, and a bearing axis of rotation. The anchor is shaped to fix the bearing to the column. The bracket includes a column face and an arcuate face. The column face is shaped to rotate about the bearing axis of rotation relative to the bracket face of the bearing. The cap includes a top and a bottom wherein the top includes at least one beam support and the bottom includes an arcuate bottom portion. The arcuate bottom portion is shaped to accept the arcuate face of the bracket and includes a radial center point that defines a cap axis of rotation. The arcuate bottom portion is shaped to rotate about the radial center point relative to the arcuate face.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites having a web section disposed along a horizontal axis and at least one flange section disposed along a horizontal axis parallel thereto and integrally molded to engage the top or bottom surface of the web section, wherein said composite is formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, poly-styrene, or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: An end face (20) of one (10a) of two adjacent thick steel plates (10a, 10b) intended to construct a corner joint of a bridge column is formed into a beveled end face (22). Laser beam welding is applied to a root portion (24) of the beveled end face, and arc welding is applied to bevels (26, 28) thereof so that grooves defined by the bevels (26, 28) are filled with weld metal (40).

Abstract: A scour preventive apparatus for a pier foundation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is the scour preventive apparatus for a pier foundation supporting load of the bridge, and may include a cover plate covering the pier foundation and formed of a plurality of holes, a first flow guide plate having a side connected to a surface of the cover plate, disposed apart from the pier foundation by a predetermined distance, and formed of a plurality of first flow holes, a second flow guide plate having a side connected to the surface of the cover plate, disposed apart from the pier foundation by the predetermined distance, and formed of a plurality of second flow holes, and a blocking plate connecting the first flow guide plate with the second flow guide plate and blocking a flow of fluid, wherein the first flow guide plate and the second flow guide plate are symmetrical to each other with respect to the pier foundation.

Abstract: A bridge includes a pier, and a hooked collar at least formed on upstream surface of the pier. The anti-scour structure includes at least one hook extending upwardly. The hook configured for guiding water flow or downflow to move upwardly thereby protect river bed from being scoured.

Abstract: A bridge pier structure is disclosed having a downwardly open footing chamber, an upper buoyant chamber, an upright member that mechanically connects these chambers, and that defines a fluid channel to the footing chamber. A valve is disposed in an upper portion of the fluid channel and configured to attach to a water ejection pump and a vacuum source. The pressure in the footing chamber can be reduced, such that hydrostatic pressure and the atmospheric pressure aids in embedding the footing. Optionally, a vibrating apparatus attaches to the structure to facilitate embedding. The apparatus may also enable the structure to be dislodged after installation, by providing a high pressure air source to the valve. The structure may be installed by towing it to location, positioning it on the waterway bed, and applying a suction to the valve.

Abstract: A composite a deck system having a deck component and a concrete component. The deck component of the present invention includes deck sections, each having a longitudinally-extending rib with spaced apart sidewalls connected to a top wall. At the opposing ends of the sidewalls can be included side edges or webs having upturned flanges with an opening or openings along the flanges that are dimensioned to facilitate composite action between the deck sections and the concrete. The system includes a first deck section, as described, adjacent to a second deck section, wherein the side edges of the first and second deck sections are in juxtaposed relation. These deck sections can be combined with concrete to form a composite deck.

Abstract: An end face (20) of one (10a) of two adjacent thick steel plates (10a, 10b) intended to construct a corner joint of a bridge column is formed into a beveled end face (22). Laser beam welding is applied to a root portion (24) of the beveled end face, and arc welding is applied to bevels (26, 28) thereof so that grooves defined by the bevels (26, 28) are filled with weld metal (40).

Abstract: A blast protective barrier system, termed a blast wall, providing a security perimeter or boundary at and above a ground level definable in terms of an x, y, z coordinate system, includes several substantially ground level (xy plane) pile caps, each itself having a y-axis elongate length, a x-axis width, and a z-axis depth, the x-axis substantially defining the width of the barrier system. Each pile cap also includes an upper and lower xy plane surface, each of the upper surfaces including y-axis channels and each of the lower surfaces including several recesses. The system also includes a first, second and further modules having a plurality of opposing pairs of yz plane, the y-axis elongate concrete panels including opposing integral xz end cap elements having a high shock-absorptive structure for isolating each module from the effect of a blast upon an adjacent module.

Abstract: A method of installing segmental concrete filled tube members. The prefabricated segmental concrete filled tube member has a hollow pipe filled therein with concrete, and a connection flange shaped in a ring radially extending from the peripheries of both ends of the pipe, wherein the segmental concrete filled tube member is integrally connected with another adjacent segmental concrete filled tube member by the connection flange.

Abstract: A floor slab bridge structure is capable of enhancing the strength with which bridge girders and concrete bridge piers are rigidly joined so as to effectively suppress expansion and contraction, deflection, and distortion of the bridge girders, and to synergistically enhance the strength of connection concrete itself against the expansion and contraction, distortion, etc., to thereby be effective to prevent collapse of a bridge due to a large earthquake. Slab concrete is hammer-set between sides of respective bridge girders, which are spaced apart in a bridge width direction, along a length direction of the bridge girders. Connection concrete, in which bridge girder portions supported on bridge bottom surfaces of concrete bridge piers supporting the bridge girders are embedded, is additionally deposited on the bridge bottom surfaces to form a floor slab bridge structure constituting a rigid joining structure.

Abstract: A bridge structure, comprising: a deck (1) for supporting a load thereon; first and second abutments (13a, b) which support respective ends of the deck and bear a compressive load from backfill (5) at the respective outer sides thereof; and at least one displacement compensation unit (21) which is configured such as to accommodate longitudinal displacement of the deck and maintain a predeterminable longitudinal force between the abutments, wherein the at least one displacement compensation unit has a load-displacement characteristic which provides for a reduced rate of change in the longitudinal force with longitudinal displacement of the deck as compared to a conventional bridge structure which incorporates no displacement compensation unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a floor slab bridge structure capable of enhancing that strength, with which bridge girders and concrete bridge piers are rigidly joined, effectively suppressing expansion and contraction, deflection, and distortion of the bridge girders, and synergistically enhancing the strength of connection concrete itself against the expansion and contraction, distortion, etc., and being very effective as measures for prevention of collapse of bridge against a large earthquake.

Abstract: A modular pier includes a plurality of modular pier sections. The plurality of modular pier sections includes at least a first pier section and a second pier section wherein the pier sections include a frame having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The pier sections include a catch bar running transversely across the second end of the frame of the pier sections. The modular pier also includes latch assemblies located on the second end of the frame of the pier sections. The latch assembly of the second pier section is operable to engage the catch bar of the first pier section to connect the first pier section to the second pier section.

Abstract: A system and method for inserting pre-cast concrete pile caps under wooden railroad bridges without removing essential load bearing rails, cross-ties, and stringers is disclosed. The system and method minimizes the time that the track is closed to normal rail traffic. The system and method uses recycled oil well drill pipes that are cast into pile caps so that female-threaded ends are flushed with an upper surface of the pile caps. Lifting rods have male threaded ends that are used with a multi-point lifting device that allows the pile cap to be slipped under the existing bridge in a number of small incremental steps utilizing the spaces between wooden bridge stringers.

Abstract: A pier system having tethered deck sections that are selectively separable from supporting pile bents to prevent damage to the pier system during storm events. The pier system includes a plurality of deck sections supported above water by pile bents and engaged therewith in normal use mode by selective attachment mechanisms. In deployment mode, the attachment mechanisms are disengaged to allow the deck sections to be removed from the pile support systems by storm action. The tethers allow the decking sections to float free but remain close to the pile bents. The system may be reassembled into normal use mode following the storm event.

Abstract: A a pier system having at least one shelf beam which has a side panel and a shelf member, the shelf member supporting a decking unit, and a method for constructing the pier system. The decking unit may also be supported by connecting members, such as support bars or inverted trusses, which are attached to and span the distance between points on the shelf members of the shelf beams. Each shelf beam is coupled to at least one support post, and the support post may be connected to a sleeve that slides axially around the support post. The method involves constructing a pier frame out of at least two shelf beams and support posts, placing a decking unit upon the shelf members of the shelf beams, and extending the pier system by repeating the process and coupling successive pier frames to one another.

Abstract: This application discloses a novel bridge construction for use in affording vehicle and pedestrian traffic over small streams and wetlands. The construction utilizes standardized sizes of pier blocks for supporting standardized deck plates, with interengaging anchor projections and sockets one on the upper ends of the pier blocks and the other on the undersides of the deck plates. Identical sockets also are provided on the bottom ends of the pier blocks for engaging the projections on underlying pier blocks, affording vertical stacking of pier blocks to accommodate varying vertical distances between a stream and an elevated roadway. A V-shaped groove formed by the tapered longitudinal edges of adjacent deck plates, together with a registering outward indentation communicating with the groove, is adapted for filling with a concrete grout, for securing the deck plates against vertical displacement.

Abstract: In order to design an infrastructure of an elevated bridge, first a target ductility factor &mgr;d and target natural period Td for the infrastructure are set in connection with an assumed earthquake motion. Subsequently, a yield seismic coefficient for the target ductility factor &mgr;d and target natural period Td is obtained from a yield seismic coefficient spectrum for the assumed earthquake motion as a design seismic coefficient Kh. On the other hand, a target yield rigidity Kd corresponding to the target natural period Td is obtained. Subsequently, the design seismic coefficient Kh is used to obtain a design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd and a displacement corresponding to the design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd is obtained as a design yield displacement &dgr;d from the target yield rigidity Kd. Subsequently, the design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd is distributed into a horizontal force Hf to be borne by the RC rigid frame and a horizontal force Hb to be borne by the damper-brace.

Abstract: A system and method for inserting pre-cast concrete pile caps under wooden railroad bridges without removing essential load bearing rails, cross-ties, and stringers is disclosed. The system and method minimizes the time that the track is closed to normal rail traffic. The system and method uses recycled oil well drill pipes that are cast into pile caps so that female-threaded ends are flushed with an upper surface of the pile caps. Lifting rods have male threaded ends that are used with a multi-point lifting device that allows the pile cap to be slipped under the existing bridge in a number of small incremental steps utilizing the spaces between wooden bridge stringers.

Abstract: A pier system has a plurality of footers each formed with a base fabricated of concrete with a top face having a downwardly extending bore. A plurality of pilings are each formed with a hollow tubular shaft with a top region and a bottom region coupled to a footer. Each piling has a reinforcing bar with an upper region and a lower region coupled within the bore of a footer. Each piling further has a plurality of apertures formed within the upper region of each shaft. A deck has a plurality of stringers with spaced free ends located within the shafts. A supplemental quantity of concrete within each shaft couples the shafts, footers, reinforcing bars, and stringers. A plurality of planks have mechanisms that couple the planks to the stringers.

Abstract: This application discloses a novel bridge construction for use in affording vehicle and pedestrian traffic over small streams and wetlands. The construction utilizes standardized sizes of pier blocks for supporting standardized deck plates, with interengaging anchor projections and sockets one on the upper ends of the pier blocks and the other on the undersides of the deck plates. Identical sockets also are provided on the bottom ends of the pier blocks for engaging the projections on underlying pier blocks, affording vertical stacking of pier blocks to accommodate varying vertical distances between a stream and an elevated roadway. A V-shaped groove formed by the tapered longitudinal edges of adjacent deck plates, together with a registering outward indentation communicating with the groove, is adapted for filling with a concrete grout, for securing the deck plates against vertical displacement.

Abstract: A prefabricated pier system provides prefabricated foundation and cap components for assembly with a series of steel H section columns to facilitate construction of bridges, overpasses, and similar structures. Each foundation component comprises a prefabricated column base sleeve, with sleeve pairs welded to a horizontal support to form pier foundation assemblies. These prefabricated assemblies are then welded to leveling beam pairs at the construction site and anchored in a concrete footing to form the foundation for each pier assembly. Each pier cap comprises a series of prefabricated sections, each having a single depending column end pocket for accepting a pair of column members therein. The sections are assembled to form the completed pier cap box, installed atop the column members, and used as a permanent form for casting the concrete pier cap. The present system may be used with either conventional single girder span construction or with built up girders.

Abstract: A prefabricated pier system provides prefabricated foundation and cap components for assembly with a series of steel H section columns to facilitate construction of bridges, overpasses, and similar structures. Each foundation component comprises a prefabricated column base sleeve, with sleeve pairs welded to a horizontal support to form pier foundation assemblies. These prefabricated assemblies are then welded to leveling beam pairs at the construction site and anchored in a concrete footing to form the foundation for each pier assembly. Each pier cap comprises a series of prefabricated sections, each having a single depending column end pocket for accepting a pair of column members therein. The sections are assembled to form the completed pier cap box, installed atop the column members, and used as a permanent form for casting the concrete pier cap. The present system may be used with either conventional single girder span construction or with built up girders.

Abstract: The shoring includes a pair of fixed frames opposed to each other and a pair of collapsible reinforcing frames disposed between both ends of the fixed frames, the reinforcing frames each having collapsible baluster struts whose base ends are pivotally connected between end portions of the fixed frames, a support rod whose base end is pivotally connected to an intermediate position of the baluster struts, and plural braces whose base ends are pivotally connected to end portions of the fixed frames and whose front ends are mounted vertically slidably to the support rod.

Abstract: An improved prefabricated elevated highway structure and a construction method thereof by which an elevated highway can be more easily and rapidly constructed without causing traffic congestion at a construction site, which highway includes an underground section for stably supporting the elevated highway and for effectively distributing the weight of the same to the ground; a plurality of support sections spaced from one another along a road on which the prefabricated elevated highway is constructed; a pavement section formed on the upper portion of the support sections; and a wall section formed at both sides of the road and along the pavement section.

Abstract: An end support for a prefabricated highway section of a prefabricated highway system. The end support includes a first elongated support member for transverse engagement of a longitudinal end of the prefabricated highway section, the first elongated support member having an elongated length dimension at least three times either of two transverse height and width dimensions and a second elongated support member parallel to the first support member and laterally aligned with the first member along an orthogonal axis for abutting an earth support of the prefabricated highway system along a longitudinal length of the second support member, the second elongated support member having an elongated length dimension at least three times either of two transverse height and width dimensions. The support member also includes a connecting member joining a center portion of the first and second elongated members in a rigid spaced-apart relationship.

Abstract: A system for covering and protecting the supporting structure of a bridge. The system is generally comprised of first plates positioned in covering relation over the top surface of the support pillars and second plates positioned in covering relation over the spans of beam which interconnect the pillars. The cover plates overhang the pillars and beam spans and include flashings and gutters appropriately positioned in order to channel and direct water away from the bridge support structure. In bridge constructions which utilize two I-beams extending in spaced, parallel relation to one another, a third plate is securely attached to, and positioned in between the two I-beams, and includes a gutter which carries water away from the bridge support structure.

Abstract: Bearing shoes that run under the abutment's axis with cradles whose precast walls are placed over the bearing shoe assembly, so that when the concrete is poured over these bearing shoes, an integral unit of the bearing shoe integrated with the cradle is formed. For the walls, TT (double T) sections are used, which consist of precast elements of reinforced and/or pre-stressed concrete, that are able to resist the horizontal and vertical forces that could act over the bridge's abutments. These TT sections are used as abutments, wings and gravity retaining walls; as central piers, precast elements of columns with caps are used, in which rectangular-section beams are simply supported with their integrated bents. Occasionally, when the vehicles access embankment or earth fills to the bridge allow it, the abutment is anchored in order to avoid its horizontal thrust, as reinforced earth.

Abstract: A prefabricated highway with end supports. The end supports include a first elongated support member for transverse engagement of a longitudinal end of the prefabricated highway section and a second elongated support member parallel to the first support member and aligned with the first member along an orthogonal axis for abutting an earth support of the prefabricated highway. The end supports further include a connecting member joining the first and second elongated members in a rigid spaced-apart relationship.The support structure is used as part of a prefabricated highway system. The prefabricated highway system uses the support structures for support of individual lane sections. The prefabricated lane sections are fabricated out of prestressed concrete and are designed to be supported longitudinally in a direction of traffic flow at each end by an upper surface of the first elongated support member of each support section.