September 9, 2025 11:00 am
Atorod Azizinamini, Ph.D., P.E., Director and Professor, Florida International University
Bryan Hartnagel, Ph.D., P.E., State Bridge Engineer, Missouri DOT
Ross Barron, P.E., State Bridge Engineer, Nebraska DOT
Jason Kemnitz, P.E., Senior Structural Engineer, Wilson and Company Inc
Gary Wisch, P.E., Engineering & Business Development Advisor, DeLong’s Inc, Steel Fabricator
Description:
The IBT/ABC-UTC 2025 In-Depth Web Training features the topic of Simple for Dead Load - Continuous for Live Load Steel Bridge Systems. We will review project examples of current projects as well as observations of projects that have been in service for extended periods. We will provide design examples, and discuss fabrication and constructability. This training is four hours in length and consists of five modules, each a 35-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A session, with a 15-minute break between Module 2 and Module 3. A final Module 6 will include a conclusion and additional Q&A. The web training starts at 11:00 a.m. Eastern and ends at 3:15 p.m. Eastern.
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Presenters:
Atorod Azizinamini, Ph.D., P.E.
Director, ABC-UTC
Vasant H. Surti Professor of Civil Engineering
Director, Moss School of Construction, Infrastructure and Sustainability
Director, Preeminent Institute for Resilient and Sustainable Coastal Infrastructure (InteRaCt)
Email: aazizina@fiu.edu
Dr. Atorod Azizinamini, Ph.D., P.E., is Director of Infrastructure Research and Innovation at Florida International University and Vasant Surti Professor of Civil Engineering. He is also Director of IBT/ABC-UTC at FIU. His research areas focus on development of innovative solutions to address challenges facing nation’s bridges and leading the development of innovative technologies, capable of advancing the bridge engineering. He has developed several bridge engineering products and systems. He has received number of awards that includes 2015 White House Champion of Change: Transportation Innovator award. He is currently leading an effort to develop the first and most comprehensive Accelerated Bridge Construction Handbook.
Bryan A. Hartnagel, Ph.D., P.E.
State Bridge Engineer
Missouri Department of Transportation
Email: Bryan.Hartnagel@modot.mo.gov
Dr. Hartnagel joined the staff of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) in June 2002. He has held the position of State Bridge Engineer since August 2021. Prior to joining MoDOT, Dr. Hartnagel held the positions of Research Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri – Columbia and Assistant Professor at Colorado State University. Bryan Hartnagel holds a bachelor of science (1989), a master of science (1993) and a doctor of philosophy (1997) in civil engineering from the University of Missouri – Columbia. His doctoral research was on inelastic design of steel girder bridges. Dr. Hartnagel is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Missouri and Colorado.
Ross Barron, P.E.,
State Bridge Engineer,
Nebraska Department of Transportation
Email: ross.barron@nebraska.gov
Ross Barron has served as the State Bridge Engineer for the Nebraska Department of Transportation since 2021, overseeing statewide bridge design, inspection, and asset management initiatives. He spent 13 years in the consulting industry prior to joining NDOT, with a focus on structural and bridge engineering. Ross holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in engineering management.
Jason Kemintz P.E.,
Senior Structural Engineer
Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects
Email: Jason.kemnitz@wilsonco.com
Jason Kemnitz has been with Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects for 7 years. Prior to joining Wilson & Co. he was the Missouri Department of Transportation Kansas City District Bridge Engineer. Jason Kemnitz holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Kansas State University – Manhattan. Jason is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Arkansas.
Gary Wisch, P.E.,
Vice President, Engineering
DeLongs, Inc.
Email: garyw@delonsinc.com
Gary Wisch has been employed by structural steel fabricator DeLong’s, Inc. for 43 years. Mr. Wisch first served as a research engineer, then for 35 years as a vice president, supervising all engineering, drafting, and quality control functions. Following a recent move to semi-retirement, he currently serves as an advisor to the Engineering and Business Development Departments. He is active in the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) Technical Committee, and is a past chair of the NSBA Executive Council. Mr. Wisch has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is a registered professional engineer in Missouri.
Module 1: Concept, History and Research of SDCL
Presentation PDF:
Module #1 - SDCL History & Research
by Atorod Azizinamini, Ph.D., P.E., Director and Professor, Florida International University
Description: This module will present the main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the Simple for Dead Load and Continuous for Live Load (SDCL) steel bridge system. Discussion will include research background and references to the associated literature related to the development of the concrete diaphragm detail that is being used by Missouri DOT. This and other details will be reviewed with discussion of pros and cons. Details applicable to non-seismic and seismic applications will be reviewed. Also, the development of economically enhanced details that utilize Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) to connect the girders over the middle supports will be discussed.
Figure 1.1 – Research Test Assembly
Figure 1.2 – Pier connection detail.
Module 2: Missouri Department of Transportation's Experience with SDCL Steel Girder Designs
Presentation PDF:
Module #2 - Missouri DOT Experience
by Bryan Hartnagel, Ph.D., P.E., State Bridge Engineer, Missouri DOT
Description: The presentation will describe the Missouri Department of Transportation’s experience with the Simple for Dead Load, Continuous for Live Load (SDCL) steel girder designs. The first use in Missouri was on the F.A.R.M. (Fixing Access to Rural Missouri) bridge bundle design-build program. The project included 25 bridge replacements that used the SDCL concept. Since the completion of the F.A.R.M. bridge program a second design-build bridge bundle included 9 superstructure replacements and 15 full bridge replacements using SDCL. A brief description of the design-build procurement method will be presented as well as construction details of the structures. Development of policies for the use of SDCL for inclusion in the MoDOT Engineering Policy Guide (EPG) will be explained.
Figure 2.1 – setting SDCL Girder
Figure 2.2 – SDCL Diaphragm Detail
Module 3: From Lab to I-80: Deploying SDCL Steel Girders in Nebraska
Presentation PDF:
Module #3 - Nebraska DOT Experience
by Ross Barron, P.E., State Bridge Engineer, Nebraska DOT
Description: Nebraska’s adoption of the Steel Deck Composite Lateral (SDCL) girder system began with large-scale testing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, followed by two pioneering installations in 2003 and 2004. The Sprague Street bridge over I-680 marked the first field application using conventional construction, while the I-80 overhead bridges introduced 100 ksi steel tub girders with no cross frames between boxes. A later project between Lincoln and Omaha applied the SDCL concept using Accelerated Bridge Construction methods. This presentation discusses the evolution of SDCL use in Nebraska and highlights the observed performance and resiliency of these systems more than 20 years after initial deployment.
Figure 3.1 – SDCL Pier Connection
Figure 3.2 – SDCL 100 ksi Steel Tub Girder Bridge over I-80
Module 4: SDCL Design Examples, Software and Design Resources
Presentation PDF:
Module #4 - Design Examples
by Jason Kemnitz, P.E., Senior Structural Engineer, Wilson and Company Inc.
Description: Simple for Dead Continuous for Live (SDCL) steel system, a technical presentation. What is SDCL, when to choose SDCL and a “how to” on the design of SDCL.
Figure 4.1 – SDCL Connection Detail
Figure 4.2 – Bridge under Construction
Module 5: A Steel Fabricator's Perspective on SDCL Fabrication and Constructability
Presentation PDF:
Module #5 - Fabricator Perspective
by Gary Wisch, P.E., Engineering & Business Development Advisor, DeLong’s Inc, Steel Fabricator
Description: The presentation will look at Simple for Dead, Continuous for Live steel bridge designs through the eyes of a steel bridge fabricator. Similarities and differences between SDLC and conventional composite designs, as they apply to fabrication, will be discussed. Success stories, and lessons learned, from the nearly 50 SDCL bridges fabricated by DeLong’s, will be included in the presentation.
Figure 5.1 – Bar at bottom flange transfers compression force.
Figure 5.2 – Shop welded shear studs bond the beam to the concrete slab.
Module 6: Conclusion and Future Innovations Related to SDCL
by Bryan Hartnagel, Ph.D., P.E., State Bridge Engineer, Missouri DOT