Engineering
BDI provides a variety of engineering services to complement our instrumentation, testing, and monitoring experience and capabilities. With engineering licenses in over 30 USA states and Canadian providences, BDI’s engineering team is involved in structural evaluation all over North America (and the world).
BDI utilizes an “integrated approach” that utilizes structural measurements to validate assumptions and provide accurate results. Based on over 30 years of experience in evaluating heavy civil structures through testing and monitoring, BDI can develop a targeted goal-oriented approach for any structure and evaluation type. The following is a summarized list of BDI’s keystone engineering services:
Analysis and Interpretation of Structural Response Measurements, including:
- Data quality control, processing, and presentation in easy-to-understand format.
- Structural performance evaluation (local & global)
- In-situ cable force measurement and balancing
- Operating modal analysis parameters
- Bridge weigh-in-motion
- Overload detection and evaluation
- Damage quantification and evaluation
- Fatigue evaluation
- Load distribution evaluation
- Emergency assessment of structural stability and safety
Bridge Load Ratings (AASHTO, AREMA, State-Specific)
- Single line girder (Standard)
- Refined (finite-element model (FEM) based)
- Field-verified (test-based FEM calibration)
- Heavy haul permit evaluations
- Simple to complex structure types
Moveable Bridge Balancing/Evaluation
- Vertical lift
- Bascule
- Swing
Hydraulic Structure Evaluation
- Spillway/Tainter Gate
- Trunnion pin friction evaluation
- Performance evaluation
- Miter Gate/Lock
- Inspection
- Diagonal tensioning
- Gudgeon stress evaluation
NBIS Bridge Inspections Bridge Inspections (Standard and Advanced)
Advanced inspections include:
- Pin Inspection
- Deck condition assessment
- Drone-based visual inspection
Our measurements are required to address specific engineering questions:
- ``What is a safe load limit for this bridge?``
- ``What load or deformation conditions caused these cracks in the girders?``
- ``How should we budget for long-term maintenance on our bridge decks?``
- ``Are forces being transferred as expected during complex construction?``
- ``Are trunnion friction values within acceptable limits?``
To address these questions, our engineering services are focused on evaluation of an existing asset’s condition and performance and include some level of analysis and utilization of relevant engineering codes. Our analysis methods range from data transformations and implementation of basic mechanics to complex finite element models with static and dynamic load conditions.
