A PROFESSOR'S PERSPECTIVE

Precast Bridge Studio

Strengthens Connection
between Academia and the Bridge Industry

by Dr. Eric Matsumoto, California State University, Sacramento

O ne of the bridge community’s most

remarkable accomplishments is
that design codes worldwide continue
to its future. This issue is particularly
disconcerting as we face ever-increasing
challenges in the transportation sector
industry immediately upon graduation.
Specific connections are made by
joining industry to the students on
to incorporate rigorous provisions to at the same time that a large wave of campus and linking students to industry
prevent connection failures of concrete Baby Boomers are transitioning into in the workplace.
bridges, even for high-seismic regions. retirement, leaving the bridge industry
For the past two decades, academics without their wealth of experience. During PBS‘s first semester, its students
and industry have partnered to develop were immersed in the precast concrete
innovative concrete connections, What can we do to improve this bridge industry primarily through a
including those for precast concrete situation? Although there is no quick precast concrete design class reorganized
bridges under the banner of accelerated fix, ABC has shown us that success to focus on bridge structures rather
bridge construction (ABC). requires leaders, innovation, and, yes, than buildings. Fifteen civil engineering
precast concrete “connections”! For students were grouped into five-person
During that same time, however, the over a decade, the PCI Foundation (pci- teams, and each team was tasked with
connection between students and the foundation.org) has sponsored dozens designing a 300-ft-long, multispan,
concrete bridge industry has remained of “precast studios” at universities as precast, prestressed concrete girder
weak. While design professionals have part of a curriculum development grant. bridge located in the Sacramento
justifiably obsessed over maintaining a These innovative immersion experiences region. The teams had to adhere to
continuous load path for our bridges, in precast concrete connect students American Association of State Highway
we have paid scant attention to in architecture and other disciplines to and Transportation Officials’ AASHTO
ensuring continuity in the relationships the precast concrete industry. Many LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and
between our students and industry. The participating students have been focused on either the California wide-
consequence is a shortage of adequately inspired to enter the precast concrete flange girder, the bathtub (U) girder, or
prepared young engineers, construction industry and related industries. the I-girder. Deliverables consisted of
managers, and others who can readily plans, design calculations, hand checks,
enter the workforce and contribute Based on this successful track record, construction sequencing, working-day
the PCI Foundation took a further step schedules, and cost estimates.
Precast Bridge Studio students meet
in fall 2018 to fund the first curriculum
with bridge mentor, Bob Fish, T.Y. Lin
grant focused solely on bridges, dubbed This task—a tall order for any group
International. Photo: Eric Matsumoto.
the “Precast Bridge Studio” (PBS), at of civil engineering undergrads—was
California State University, Sacramento especially challenging because one-third
(Sac State). This four-year grant has of the students were simultaneously
provided a new pathway for the precast taking their first reinforced concrete
concrete bridge industry to develop a design class and all students lost two
long-term partnership with academia weeks of the semester due to the
to directly support the education and norther n Califor nia Paradise Fire
training of the next generation of smoke days. Nevertheless, students
industry professionals and leaders. PBS embraced the challenge, calling it
aims to connect civil engineering and “the experience of a lifetime.” Teams
construction management students to were motivated and strengthened by
members of the precast concrete bridge continual engagement with industry,
industry—including bridge designers, which included team mentoring by
fabricators, construction managers, consultant bridge engineers from T.Y.
contractors, suppliers, and others—and Lin International, Mark Thomas & Co.,
thereby produce a new generation of and MGE Engineering and oversight
students who are employable in the by the Califor nia Department of

46 | ASPIRE Fall 2019

Transportation (Caltrans). In addition to
learning bridge design and construction
management, students treasured the life
lessons derived from a realistic project
with deliverables, office visits, and
accountability to a practicing engineer.

Precast concrete fabrication was

foremost in the minds of students
during the entire process. In fact, they
unanimously ranked the visit to the
Con-Fab precast concrete plant in
Lathrop, Calif., as the highlight event
of the semester. One student recalled,
“Lecture could not prepare me for
Precast Bridge Studio students learn to use bridge design software during a PGSuper™
the surreal experience of seeing the
workshop led by BridgeSight Software president, Richard Pickings. Photo: Eric
over 100-ft long bridge girders at the
Matsumoto.
Con-Fab plant. It completely blew me
away.” The students were eagerly
and Caltrans on bridge design workshops, plus other events such as a
anticipating the plant tour because
specifications and cost estimating. new Precast Bridge Seminar series, which
Con-Fab chief engineer, Brent Koch,
Additionally, students took part in two incorporated both civil engineering and
gave a class lecture, “A Day in the
precast concrete bridge design software construction management students—
Life of a Precast Plant,” the previous
workshops that equipped them to the first collaboration between these
day. During the visit, students directly
perform bridge design using PGSuper departments in the history of the
experienced the magnitude and
Design Software I/II. To make the precast college. Caltrans kicked off the series
intricacies of bridge girders, details for
connection more “concrete,” every with “Accelerated Bridge Construction in
composite action and continuity, deck
classroom event or field trip included a California,” and other industry partners
panels, precast concrete pavement,
10-question quiz. presented at club meetings. Such events
steel forms that matched their own
drew dozens of students because of
girder design, tensioning strand on a
By the end of the semester, the teams the interesting topics, student officer
prestressing bed, materials testing, and
were ready to showcase their hard work enthusiasm, and, of course, lots of
much more.
through a formal presentation, “Design desserts and other treats.
and Construction of a Multispan
During a tour of the Sumiden Wire
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Bridge,” The generous industry support of time
plant in Stockton, Calif., the students
before a packed audience, half of whom and resources during fall 2018 has
also witnessed production of plain and
were bridge industry members. The paved the way for further development
epoxy-coated strand and tensile testing
industry mentors and supervising faculty of the PBS program for the next three
served as the judging panel. years. In fall 2019, a new joint civil
The semester was filled with interaction
engineering/construction management
with many industry members, including
The atmosphere was electric. Teams bridge design and construction project
lectures by individuals from Dura-
were initially anxious to present before is being offered, including engineering
Stress on long-span girders, Viking
so many industry experts, but they and construction mentors aided by
Construction on precast concrete versus
eventually relaxed and ended up doing assistant mentors.
cast-in-place bridge construction and
such a great job that bridge firms began
construction sequence and schedule,
to offer jobs to students that very night. With continued vision, guidance, and
A student team presents its final bridge One of the members in attendance, support from the PCI Foundation,
design before the Precast Bridge Studio PCI Foundation Board of Directors PBS at Sac State can be a model for
judging panel and audience. Photo: Mike member Glen Switzer of Durastress, other universities to develop a strong,
Kealey, Owl Productions. noted, “Right now we have 15 students reliable “precast connection” between
in one semester that can come into students and industry that will supply
our industry and become a vital part, the fresh faces, innovative ideas, and
especially in the bridge arena. They’re vigor of a new generation needed for
familiar with the technology advantages the growth of the precast concrete
and already have the ability to design bridge industry.
precast concrete bridges.”

Because of an active PCI student club EDITOR’S NOTE

at the university, undergraduates who
were not enrolled in the PBS class were Students compiled a 15-minute video
still able to connect with the precast capturing the excitement of their
concrete industry. These students PBS experience, which is accessible at
participated in PBS field trips and https://youtu.be/IKg1d-YEg1k.

ASPIRE Fall 2019 | 47