TYPES OF

DESIGN
STANDARDS
TYPES OF DESIGN
STANDARDS
The design of a highway bridge, like most any other civil
engineering project, is dependent on certain standards and
criteria. Naturally, the critical importance of highway bridges in a
modern transportation system would imply a set of rigorous
design specifications to ensure the safety and overall quality of
the constructed project. However, the volume of information
which a bridge engineer must consult throughout the course of
any given design can be somewhat formidable.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
 An overall design code covering the majority of the structures
in a given transportation system.

 In U.S., the bridge engineers use AASHTO’s Standard

Specifications for Highway Bridges or AASHTO LRFD
(Load and Resistance Factor Design) Bridge Design
Specifications, depending on which state the bridge is located.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Philippines
 Design Guidelines, Criteria & Standards Volume 4 Highway
Design 2015
- covers design of all types of highways including geometry,
intersections, pavement, highway drainage, facilities and lighting
 Design Guidelines, Criteria & Standards Volume 5 Bridge
Design 2015
- covers the general requirement and the Load and
Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach in design for
construction, alteration, repair and retrofitting of highway
bridges and other related highway structures.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
 DPWH Guide Specifications LRFD Bridge Seismic Design
Specifications 1st Edition 2013
- based on AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

 Design Guidelines, Criteria & Standard 2015 (Volume 3,

Water Engineering Projects)
- provides basic requirements and essential tools in the design
preparation of water engineering projects.
MATERIAL RELATED DESIGN CODES

 Material design codes are standards which pertain to

bridge components constructed out of various engineering
materials.
 General material specifications which cover wide range of
materials are put forth by the American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM).
 But for the application of specific materials, the following
organizations offer material-related design information:
MATERIAL RELATED DESIGN CODES

 Steel
 The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) offers
structural steel related design and detailing manuals.
 “Manual of Steel Construction”
 American Welding Society (AWS)
 In the Philippines, Association of Structural Engineers of
the Philippines (ASEP) published “ASEP Steel Handbook”
which is also based on the specifications given by AISC
and AWS.
MATERIAL RELATED DESIGN CODES

 Concrete
 American Concrete Institute (ACI) offers bridge engineers
a set of standards in the analysis and design of reinforced
concrete structures.
 “Building Code and Commentary”
 “ACI Detailing Manual”
 For Prestressed concrete structures, the Prestressed
Concrete Institute (PCI) publishes PCI Design Handbook
MATERIAL RELATED DESIGN CODES

 Timber
 “Timber Construction Manual” by American Institute of
Timber Construction (AITC)
 “National Design Specification for Wood Construction”
issued by American Wood Council (AWC)
MATERIAL RELATED DESIGN CODES

 These material-related codes mostly deal with building

structural design, therefore, they can only be used as
references and background information. Bridge engineers
should always apply AASHTO Code for the design.
USE OF DESIGN STANDARDS
 Design specifications are essential tools which the bridge
engineer uses in cobbling together a design, but by no means
do they offer a uniform template for punching out final
contract documents.

 Although the design of the modern highway bridge is, at this

point, several decades old, there is still considerable room for
improvement.