Bill Davids, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Maine
Development and Implementation of a Novel Composite Bridge Girder
This talk will address research into the development and implementation of a lightweight, durable fiber-reinforced-polymer bridge girder with a composite concrete slab. The lightweight composite girders nest to reduce shipping volume and can be installed without large cranes. Results from tests of a forty-foot girder specimen tested in flexure will be presented and compared with expected performance. Extensive research dedicated to developing and assessing the strength and fatigue behavior of the girder-deck shear connectors, which are essential to girder capacity, will also be overviewed. Finally, the in-situ performance of a 75’ span, five-girder bridge that was constructed on US Route 1A in Hampden, Maine in late 2020 will be discussed. The bridge was heavily instrumented and subjected to over 260,000 pounds of load via four loaded dump trucks. The resulting measured strains provided significant insight into the in-situ behavior of the girders, and validated the design of the structure.
Bill Davids, Ph.D., P.E., Bio
Dr. Bill Davids is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maine, where he teaches classes in structural design, structural analysis, and numerical methods. He was a bridge engineer for four years prior to entering academia. Bill has directed research in bridge engineering, inflatable structures, and the mechanics of solid and engineered wood. He has authored or co-authored 50+ articles in peer-reviewed journals. Bill holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Maine, and is a licensed PE.