Feasibility and Design of an Accelerated Infrastructure Testing Facility (AITF)


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CAIT project no.: AITF-RU4474

Fiscal Year: 2008/2009

Status: Final

Rutgers-CAIT Author(s): Ali Maher, Ph.D., Patrick Szary, Ph.D., Andrés Roda

External Author(s): Malcolm G. McLaren, P.E., SECB (McLaren Engineering Group), Franklin Moon, Ph.D. (Drexel University), Emin Aktan (Drexel University)

Sponsor(s): U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration

Summary:

The Accelerated Infrastructure Testing Facility (AITF) would be the first facility in the world to enable accelerated scientific study of deterioration processes on full-scale bridges and also would offer state-of-the-art advanced pavement materials evaluation and testing capabilities.

Specifically, the AITF would be composed of several interdependent laboratories within a single facility. Work done at the AITF would directly support the national strategy to maintain and repair our aging highway system in order to promote economic growth and mobility. Within the next decade, substantial bridge maintenance and replacement will be necessary, as will ongoing highway rehabilitation. These efforts will significantly affect congestion and commerce, negatively impacting the competitiveness of our nation’s manufacturing sectors, shipping/trucking capabilities, and port/maritime operations.

The AITF would be an internationally recognized, preeminent facility for the accelerated lifecycle testing and validation of a broad range of current and emerging bridge and pavement technologies—similar to Underwriters Laboratories—for bridge and pavement materials, technologies, and processes. The knowledge gained in the AITF would directly assist owners in decision making and management of their transportation assets. The AITF would be valuable to all those engaged in the design, development, supply, construction, and maintenance of bridge and pavement infrastructure worldwide.