11/05/2026
By Thomas Dugan

The Francis College of Engineering's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Harsh Gandhi, titled “Monitoring the Construction Phase of Integral Abutment Bridge in Hartford, Vermont.”

Details

  • Date: November 19, 2026
  • Time: 9:30 a.m.
  • Location: Perry 215

Committee members

  • Dr. Susan Faraji-Hennessey, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Dr. Raj Kumar Gondle, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UMass Lowell
  • Dr. Oğuz Güneş, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
  • Dr. Shawn Kelley, Vice President, Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.

Abstract

Integral abutment bridges (IAB) are single or multi-span continuous bridges in which the deck and superstructure are connected integrally to the abutments, which are typically supported by a single row of flexible piles. In conventional bridges, expansion joints accommodate daily and seasonal thermal movement of the deck. In integral abutment bridges, the elimination of these joints causes thermal expansion and contraction of the superstructure to move directly to the substructure. This interaction becomes increasingly complex for long-span, skewed bridges with asymmetric geometry and nonuniform foundation and backfill conditions.

This thesis documents the instrumentation and monitoring program implemented on Hartford Bridge #7, the longest integral abutment bridge in Vermont. The bridge is a 550-foot-long, three-span structure (160–230–160 feet), with a 20-degree skew. Its superstructure consists of four steel plate girders with varying cross sections along the span length. An additional splayed girder supports the sidewalk. Each abutment is supported by ten W12×152 steel piles, while the pile lengths, installation conditions and surrounding soil profiles differ substantially between the two abutments. The bridge also incorporates EPS geofoam between the abutment walls and the backfills. These geometric, structural and geotechnical characteristics push the boundaries for current design guidance, making the bridge an important case study for evaluating the monitoring of long-span integral abutment bridges.

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the installation, functionality and data reliability of the instrumentation system during construction; identify limitations associated with sensor installation, data acquisition and data management; develop recommendations for future bridge-monitoring programs; and establish a verified framework for the second phase of long-term monitoring at Hartford Bridge #7.