The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 is a historic example of the need for standardization. At the time, 600 different hose-coupling devices were in use in the United States. Crews responded from as far away as New York, only to find that they were unable to connect their hoses to the hydrants due to the incompatible couplings. Decades later, the United States’ engineer-president, Herbert Hoover, pushed for the standardization of screw threads, which was ultimately so successful that we can now assume that threaded fasteners made on opposite sides of the country will fit together. Although concrete construction is infinitely adaptable, standardization is still key to both the economics and quality of a project. In construction, standardization can be summed up as doing more, thinking less—at least on site or during production. This article summarizes a number of considerations that are specific to segmental bridge construction but also applicable to other types of construction…..
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE: Aspire Article – Detailing Segmental Concrete Box Girders for Constructability Part 2_