Recent Advances in Steel Bridge Design and Construction with Emphasis on High Performance Steel

November 4-5, 1999
Embassy Suites Hotel-KCI Airport
7640 N.W. Tiffany Springs Pkwy.
Kansas City, Missouri

During the later portion of the 90's, the bridge industry witnessed the introduction of new concepts and materials into the steel bridge industry. In 1994, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the U.S. Navy and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) began a five-year, $1.2 million joint effort to develop a "High Performance Steel" (HPS). The development of HPS, grade 70 and 100, was soon followed by research and construction of steel bridges using grade 70 HPS. The amount of knowledge gained through designing new and innovative bridges using HPS , research and lessons learned from constructing steel bridges over the last few years, has been tremendous. Most of this information has not found its way into publication yet.

The objective of this national conference is to fill the knowledge gap and bring the latest information to the steel bridge industry. The conference is also aimed at providing an outlook of what the steel bridge industry will see in the future. The speakers for this conference include groups of bridge owners, designers, government officials, academicians, fabricators and contractors involved in HPS and other innovative ideas dealing with steel bridges.

An important part of this two day long conference is two panel discussions, one at the end of each conference day. The members of each panel will consist of more than 20 state bridge engineers from different states or their representatives. In addition, consultants, academicians, fabricators and contractors will also be represented in the panel.

The national conference will be held November 4-5, 1999, in Kansas City, MO at the Embassy Suites. The registration for this conference is $50 and will include lunch, refreshments and handouts for both days. On the afternoon of November 3, 1999, also at the Embassy Suites in Kansas City, MO, a four hour long short course devoted to the design of steel bridges using AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design specifications will be taught. This short course will be taught by Dr. Atorod Azizinamini, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The registration for this short course will be $90 and will include refreshments and course hand out materials.

If you are interested in obtaining more information about these events, please contact Stacy Umbenhower.