Tag Archive for: durability

Pre-Planning Projects with a Strategy-Based Approach

Devising a plan is one of the necessary steps that lead to successful construction. In order to build the best quality bridge, construction workers must strategically plan the process ahead of time. Before deciding what is going to be built, consider how it is going to be built. The two go hand in hand when achieving projects. To shape the best results, construction workers must keep the planning process in mind. More importantly, the pre-planning process! While it can be a challenge, pre-planning construction is fundamental and crucial.

Strategy-Based Projects

To start with a plan, one must have an end goal. In other words, a strategy-based process is necessary to achieve your intended goal. U.S. Bridge takes both speed and quality seriously when it comes to building quality bridges. Start on the ends and make your way to the middle. This means determining your end goal, pre-planning your project, then working to connect the two. During construction, it will help to track your performance to make sure you are meeting your mark. Using 3 steps, you can execute your next construction project:

  • Pre-plan
  • Track/measure your performance
  • Meet your Goal

Realistic Measurement

In addition, measurement is a critical component of construction. There are numerous qualities of measurement that must be considered during the design and building processes. Some qualities include:

  • Dimension
  • Quantity
  • Level
  • Pressure
  • Time

At U.S. Bridge, precision is essential during measurement. In fact every detail of our bridges are met with a level of attention and efficiency to ensure it is delivered on time and to your specifications. These are all measurements that ensure longevity, durability, and sustainability.

Pre-Planning Project Completion

In the construction realm, possibilities such as natural disasters, emergencies, and accidents may occur. These are factors every laborer must be prepared to confront. Ideally, every team’s goal is to complete projects as quickly as possible. However, one cannot escape the inevitable. So, be sure to devise a realistic rate of completion when pre-planning your project.

Quality Assurance

U.S. Bridge understands the value of our customers. Our 80 years of construction experience teaches us the best ways to build quality bridges. Pre-planning our projects facilitates the process and leads to success. For questions or concerns, contact us today and get a quote to start on your next project!

The Mechanical Properties Of Steel Bridges

The Mechanical Properties Of Steel Bridges

A significant aspect of steel bridges is their durability. Touted for its strength, steel is one of the most enduring materials for a variety of purposes. However, with the amount of traffic and strain that bridges endure, it is crucial that the material withstand more than the usual elements. Engineers have outlined and tested the mechanical properties of steel bridges to measure reliability. Below are the key mechanical properties of steel bridges under the following categories: strength, toughness, ductility, weldability, and durability.

Strength

Though steel is one of the strongest materials on earth, other alloys can be introduced during the manufacturing process that have an impact on the steel’s strength. As a result, testing yield strength will help to conclude what if any issues there might be. Yield strength, along with tensile strength, is considered the standard in steel strength testing.

Toughness

It is natural for materials to contain some imperfections. When those imperfections are magnified, however, troubling issues can occur. The most common imperfections in steel are tiny cracks in the hardened material, which can lead to brittleness. The Charpy V-notch impact test determines steel toughness. Depending on the grade of steel being used, there are different acceptable levels of impact strength.

Ductility

Ductility measures how much tensile stress steel can handle before breaking. This determines the general strain capacity of the steel, assuming there are no holes, notches, or other elements that might affect its strength.

Weldability

Another one of the mechanical properties of steel bridges is weldability. In other words: how does the steel hold up when welded? This is an important question, since introducing welding, which involves heating the steel at very high temperatures and then cooling it just as quickly, can result in a loss of toughness.

Durability

This one is pretty easy to figure out; the steel must be able to withstand a variety of stresses. Corrosion prevention is one step often taken to ensure steel durability.

At U.S. Bridge, we pride ourselves on building steel bridges that are made to last. Our team of expert engineers is committed to addressing all the mechanical properties of steel bridges to ensure our work exceeds expectations. To find out more about U.S. Bridge and our work, please contact us today.