Today's design and construction of major highway structures is increasingly becoming a "high tech" field for the structural engineer. These bridges are considered to be "high tech" because of the complex mathematical process that is required for their design and construction/erection. Designs such as these are only accomplished through the use of very complex computer-based design programs. The need for engineers to be capable of designing and constructing such structures is due in part by the need of the local community and the nation to get the most from the available highway dollar. Today's projectrequirements relative to environmental concerns such as wetlands and water quality also drive the demand for the design of longer span bridges with sophisticated erection schemes. Consequently, the engineering community is using more and more segmental concrete design and construction methods as a means to address these concerns. A segmental concrete arch bridge to carry the natchez trace parkway over tennessee route 96 near franklin, tennessee, is such a structure. Thispaper appears in transportation research record no. 1290, Third bridge engineering conference, march 10-13, 1991, denver, colorado, volume 2.
Abstract