John M. Kulicki

Chairman/CEO Modjeski and Masters Inc.

Observations on AASHTO Bridge Design
(click to view video)

Friday, March 22nd, 2013 – 4:10 pm

Location: Sinclair Lab Auditorium, Lehigh University, 7 Asa Drive, Bethlehem, PA

John M. Kulicki, Chairman/CEO Modjeski and Masters Inc.: A graduate of Lafayette College and Lehigh University, Dr. Kulicki has over forty years of experience in virtually all aspects of bridge analysis and design including suspension, cable-stayed, and long-span truss and arch bridges.  He joined Modjeski and Masters in 1974 and is currently Chairman/CEO. His experience includes design, research, code development, and teaching.   Designs he has led have won many awards including the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement awards and three American Institute of Steel Construction’s (AISC’s) Prize Bridge awards.  Kulicki has authored more than 80 technical papers and presentations, and he has contributed to three engineering handbooks.  He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has received numerous awards, most recently AISC’s Kimbrough Award.  He is both a user of, and a contributor to, the AASHTO Bridge Design Specifications having led the 50-member team of experts in the development of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.

Observations on AASHTO Bridge Design: The bridge design specifications promulgated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the primary source of technical guidance for highway bridge designers in the United States.  The various states may make exceptions to these provisions and the basic document has been the basis of national specifications in many other countries.  This presentation will discuss the pre-AASHTO years from the late 1800’s until the early 1900’s, review the design philosophies utilized by AASHTO to provide structural safety, illustrate how lessons from failures have been incorporated in the design requirements, summarize the development of the latest generation of the specifications, and introduce two potential new directions to make the specifications even more robust and comprehensive.Bridges are a highly visible part of the built environment.  In addition to safely transporting drivers over obstacles, the appearance of well-proportioned bridges can add to the view shed and capture the spirit of the public. Some illustrative examples will be presented and the role of design professionals other than engineers will be discussed based on personal observations from recent projects.

The Fazlur R. Khan Distinguished Lecture Series has been initiated and organized by Dan M. Frangopol, the first holder of Lehigh's Fazlur Rahman Khan Endowed Chair of Structural Engineering and Architecture.