Test Report: Assembly and Structural Loading of Army Research Lab's High Strength Low Alloy - Vanadium (HSLA - V) Bridge
Abstract
The Army's Vanadium Technology Program developed a prototype bridge and then approached TARDEC to test and evaluate two-representative sections of bridge. The focus of the effort was on evaluating the assembly time and gathering strain and deflection data under prescribed loads for finite element model (FEM) validation. The pieces to assemble and join the two sections arrived at TARDEC's Bridge Testing Lab in late January and the bridge was completely assembled inside the lab by 4 men in a cumulative 11 hours over 3 days. The assembly process relied upon an experienced manufacturer's representative (who supervised the entire assembly), 15k forklift, two 30k rolling carts (for positioning the sections for assembly), air compressor, and approximately two dozen commercially available tools and safety items. Comments about the assembly process can be summarized as physically demanding - requiring a relatively long time and fatiguing effort compared to 40 foot of bridge typically assembled by Army Soldiers. Suggestions to improve the assembly time are to reduce the number of fasteners, ship more completely assembled bridge sections and make use of larger forklifts/cranes to lift and join the assembled sections. A section designed along with a launch mechanism and crew choreography is suggested to optimize the time to cross the gap.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 28, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA527692
Entities
People
- Eric Osterland
- Jim Stankewitz
Organizations
- United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center