Sebastian Montoya-Vargas
University of Maine
Degrees:
B.S. Civil Engineering – Universidad Nacional de Colombia – 2018
M.Sc. Civil Engineering – University of Maine – 2021
Preferred Career after Graduation:
Civil Engineering
Broad research Area:
Bridges, Foundations.
Specific Research Area:
Soil-structure interaction of micro-piles supported IAB
Student Bio: Sebastian Montoya-Vargas is a graduate student at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine. In 2018 got its Civil Engineering degree at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia at Medellin, Colombia, where he comes from. His innate love for sciences led him to enroll into the M.Sc. program in Hydraulics Resources whit major in Coastal Engineering at the same university during the 2018-2019 period. In 2019, he enrolled the M.Sc. Civil Engineering program at the University of Maine and participated the project titled Assessment of Micro-pile Supported IABs which was completed on 2021. Today, he pursues his Ph.D. title working as research assistant in the project titled Flexural Strength of Micropile Threaded Joints, under the advice of professors Aaron Gallant and William G. Davids.
Thesis title: Assessment of Micropile-Supported Integral Abutment Bridges
Thesis Summary: Integral abutment bridges (IABs) are the preferred method of construction by Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) and other transportation agencies throughout the United States due to their durability and reduced upfront and life-cycle costs. Shallow bedrock, commonplace at bridge sites throughout the state of Maine, has precluded the use of conventional driven pile foundations and IABs in some instances. Micropiles are an attractive foundation alternative for shallow bedrock sites where conventional foundation systems (e.g. driven piles) cannot develop sufficient length to achieve fixity and/or adequate geotechnical resistance. These foundation elements can be installed through challenging glacial geology, including boulder material and bedrock.
To date, there is no specific guidance on the design of micropile-supported IABs. 3D finite element (numerical) analyses, to assess the performance of an IAB micropile foundation system, considering a wide range of conditions, including: bridge length; bedrock depth, strength, and stiffness; overlying soil strength and stiffness; and abutment skew angle. All analyses will consider the influence of annual temperature fluctuations and creep/shrinkage of the bridge deck associated with imposed deformations, thus combined axial, lateral, and torsional loading, on the IAB foundation system.
Presentation
Poster
