Accelerated Bridge Testing Facility 

Piscataway, New Jersey | Rutgers University

Rutgers University developed a bridge deck testing system consisting of mounting hardware for experimental decks and appurtenances and a motorized, loadable, and wheeled reciprocating sled that mimics a tractor-trailer crossing the bridge deck. The BEAST is designed to expose full-scale bridge specimens to rapid-cycling, changing environmental conditions, and extreme traffic loading to induce accelerated deterioration that simulates decades of use in just a few months. D&K provided foundation and site design. As part of the project, we also provided peer review and foundation construction phase services to support this first-of-its-kind testing facility. 

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The BEAST serves as a test bed for DOTs and consultants to test a wide range of bridge components including: concrete, rebar, safety devices, drainage, bearings, joints, and framing, among others. The system is designed to simulate 15 to 20 years of wear in approximately three months.