Simplified LRFD Bridge Design

Helping readers prepare for the civil and structural PE exam, this book presents numerous design examples that serve as a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to basic bridge design using the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, Fifth Edition. It offers a simplified explanation of load resistance factor design (LRFD) method-based bridge design principles and lists the AASHTO reference section numbers alongside formulas and where topics are introduced, to refer the reader to the primary source material. This is a valuable reference for civil engineering students as well as for practicing engineers.

Jai B. Kim, PE, PhD, is a professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering at Bucknell University. He was department chairman for 26 years. Also, currently he is a bridge consultant (since 1980) and president of BKLB Structural Consultants, Inc. Recently he was a structural engineer at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). He has been active in bridge research for over 40 years, and was a member of the Transportation Research Board Committee of Bridges and Structures. He also served on the Structural PE Exam Committee of the National Council of Examiners and Surveying (NCEES) for many years. He holds a BSCE and MSCE from Oregon State University and a PhD from University of Maryland.

Robert H. Kim, PE, MSCE, is chief design engineer for BKLB Structural Consultants, Inc. He has extensive experience in the design, research, and construction of highway bridges. He has authored and presented several papers related to bridge engineering. Robert’s three books, Bridge Design for the Civil and Structural Professional Exams, Second Edition; Timber Design, Seventh Edition; and Civil Discipline Specific Review for the FE/EIT Exam are well-read by both students and engineers. In 2013, he is working on a bridge rehabilitation design in Connecticut. He holds a BS from Carnegie Mellon University and a MSCE from Penn State University.

Jonathan R. Eberle, BSCE is engaged in research with focus on the seismic design and analysis of structures at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University as a graduate student. He holds a BSCE from Bucknell University.

Dave M. Mante, MSCE performed a rigorous full-scale laboratory testing on an innovative concrete bridge deck system and he is performing research on prestressed concrete girders at Auburn University.

Eric J. Weaver, PE, M.Eng, performed research on fatigue and life-cycle analysis of steel truss bridges at Lehigh University. He worked for NASA’s space shuttle program and currently he is working as a structural engineer for Westinghouse Electric Co.