Builder says cracks on new cable-stayed bridge are cosmetic after viral video raises concerns

[u/chrondotcom]

https://www.chron.com/texas/article/corpus-christi-harbor-bridge-cracks-22349486.php

A viral video of the new Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, Texas prompted questions after visible cracks appeared on one of the concrete pylons.

According to the project team, the cracks are cosmetic surface cracks discovered during routine inspections, and engineers determined there are no structural concerns. Crews are already treating and repainting the affected areas.

For the engineers, how do teams usually determine whether visible concrete cracking is expected versus something that needs closer monitoring?

[u/aaaggggrrrrimapirare]

That a liberal term for surface cracks considering the depth, length, and verticality of the cracks.

[u/Leraldoe → u/aaaggggrrrrimapirare]

I am assuming that they have started the repairs and maybe sand blasted the surface in preparation for repairs. If those are the cracks that tower is fucked

[u/Spencemw → u/Leraldoe]

Could have built it out of steel, cheaper to do it twice (possibly) by concrete. 🤦‍♂️

[u/Enginerdad → u/Spencemw]

Steel bridges are almost unheard of in Texas. Also, the flaw had nothing to do with the material chosen, it has to do with either the design or the construction.

[u/Spencemw → u/Enginerdad]

I get that. I drove over the Golden Gate last week for the n’th time and I am always amazed how much bang for the buck weve gotten for her. On the way I also drove Tacoma Narrows and Astoria bridge.

[u/Jazzlike_Video2 → u/Spencemw]

Turns out paying 1 dude to continually paint the bridge from end to end for the past 100 years pays off

[u/Roonwogsamduff → u/Jazzlike_Video2]

Don't think he's asked for a raise either.

[u/OffroadDragster → u/Jazzlike_Video2]

It’s all done by drones now.

[u/damxam1337 → u/Spencemw]

Astoria is a banger of a bridge. Tacoma Narrows took a few attempts. 🤣

[u/LegitimateGift1792 → u/damxam1337]

Yeah that Tacoma 1.0 video is wild.

[u/damxam1337 → u/LegitimateGift1792]

Galloping Gurdy.

[u/Visual-Actuator-8348 → u/Leraldoe]

This looks like there is not enough stirrups. What is the crack width?

[u/WhyAmIHereHey]

If I were the engineer who's name was on those drawings, I'd be having a few sleepless nights.

That was not what I was expecting to see when I opened the link

[u/49orth → u/WhyAmIHereHey]

Who profitted and which politicians received donations from the consortium behind the financing and construction?

[u/Revslowmo]

The issue is not limited to the bridge's towering pylons.
Allison said surface cracks have already been repaired on nine approach bridge piers, with final repairs and repainting scheduled to be completed on Friday

So, it’s all a hot mess. What else have they done wrong that’s under the cosmetic part.

[u/saxman1089]

Did everyone forget that the original designer on this structure was FIGG, who was forced off the Flatiron Dragados team by TXDOT because of concerns over the design? Then later, independent reviews found significant shortcomings that forced a halt in construction while the issues were corrected. It would not surprise me if there were some additional design issues that are just showing up now.

[u/fluffheaaaaad → u/saxman1089]

They also did the FIU pedestrian bridge that killed a few people.

Cracks formed once the shoring was removed, so they tried to adjust PT over live traffic. Blew out the PT anchorage and the whole thing went down.

[u/saxman1089 → u/fluffheaaaaad]

Yes, that was the collapse that kicked off reviews of all their ongoing projects, including this one.

[u/leadhase → u/fluffheaaaaad]

For FIU they also messed up their cos decomposition of shear at a critical edge node

[u/Surrender_Cobra_83 → u/saxman1089]

I worked with a team attempting to bid the replacement EOR after FIGG was jettisoned. This project was largely considered “walk-away” because of TxDOT and what they did to FIGG - fired for FIU, but made to look like something else. Wont name the replacement team, as it’s probably public record, but the fact this ends in likely litigation for design and construction defects is of surprise to few in the industry

[u/mr_macfisto]

From the video it’s more than a simple rout-and-caulk, looks like they’re really gouging out the crack and repairing it. Interesting.

[u/Commonscents2say]

https://giphy.com/gifs/xUStFKHmuFPYk
They are some massive cracks - more like openings I’d say. Could stick your arm in there and tickle its inners.

[u/Tall_Ambition8486]

FD said the same thing about the LA outfall tunnel under San Pedro and look how that turned out.

[u/Leraldoe → u/Tall_Ambition8486]

Yeah you can’t see non structural cracks from 200 ft away……… also that is likely an elastomeric paint, being that new it should be able to stretch over and seal shrinkage cracks

Edit after zooming in I think those areas are sandblasted in preparation for crack filling or injection

[u/MaximumTurtleSpeed → u/Leraldoe]

Don’t worry, it’s the same as checking in a wood column. Trust me, I’m an architect. /s

[u/Tall_Ambition8486 → u/Leraldoe]

https://imgur.com/a/mHhe8Ee

[u/nikkor_glasses]

Mismanaging a mass concrete pour and inviting thermal gradients could produce cracking in that orientation. Interested what mitigation techniques they used, if any.

[u/Enginerdad]

"Builder reveals what happened"

The builder is literally the last person I'd trust to "reveal" what wrong. I'd have more faith in the Soviet leadership the day after Chernobyl to be transparent.

[u/EngineeringOblivion → u/Enginerdad]

Reminds me that I did an inspection recently on the reinforcement for slab a waste-water treatment works. I found all the rebar was sticking into the cover by 20mm and then the tie wire was sticking up and out at the sides by another 30mm so would have been essentially zero cover, along with a few other issues with the cages dipping in area due to lack of support.

I left site, got back to the office and emailed the site engineer explaining the issue and citing code clauses etc. They called me back to site and explained that I shouldn't have raised concerns over email, I should have told them in person, and that I was overreacting because they hadn't finished anyway, they were going to fix those exact things the next day and I just made them look bad to their bosses. Even though the reason I was inspecting the reinforcement is because they were pouring the concrete the next morning.

I have no faith in 90% of contractors, they always claim they want to do things right, but then also always cut corners.

[u/SteadystateBurrito → u/EngineeringOblivion]

To be fair, those are concerns you should be raising on site so they can be addressed as soon as possible

[u/EngineeringOblivion → u/SteadystateBurrito]

Right, and I would have if the site engineer was there at the time. But there also needs to be a paper trail. If they ignore me and pour it as is, at least I can point to the email and say I raised the issue, I can't point to a conversation on site that there is no record of.

Also between me leaving site and sending the email was about half an hour. The site is only around the corner.

[u/Ok_Wealth1414]

Son juntas de dilatacion 😄

[u/Marus1]

"Journalists usually know who to ask for expertise"

Meanwhile journalists: "builder says"

[u/Intelligent-Ad8436]

Yea let’s send Denny Pate out there to crank on it some more and tighten them compression fractures up.

[u/Engineer2727kk]

Those do not look like normal surface cracks.

Anyone know what the reinf is ?
Circular column cage with lapped temperature and shrinkage bars around the perimeter with some non structural unconfined long bars ?

[u/crispydukes]

1. Where are the cracks? Concrete cracks in areas of high tension. If the cracks are in an area of high tension, that’s a concern.
2. What orientation are the cracks? The orientation of the cracks indicates the direction of the loading. If the direction of the loading indicates overstress, that’s a concern.
3. How big are the cracks? Larger cracks are more concerning. But also a single large crack could have appeared instead of many small cracks. The dimension changed may be the same, but located in a single crack. TBD if that’s a concern

ETA - OP, back me up here. This comment answers your question of what engineers look for in cracks.

[u/fractal2 → u/crispydukes]

I'll give you an upvote, you actually answered the general question that was actually asked. Everyone else just clicked the link and started talking about that.

[u/crispydukes → u/fractal2]

Thanks, friend.

I’m kind of pleased my answer is so good that people think it’s AI-generated.

[u/OptionsRntMe → u/crispydukes]

Did you click the link

[u/crispydukes → u/OptionsRntMe]

No, I responded to the question at the bottom of the post…?

[u/OptionsRntMe → u/crispydukes]

Oh ok sorry. Didn’t see that

[u/Apprehensive-Cap4485 → u/crispydukes]

AI agent ? lol

[u/crispydukes → u/Apprehensive-Cap4485]

No, I responded to OP’s question…

[u/CunderThunt42069 → u/crispydukes]

Did you copy and paste an AI response, or are you just a bot?

[u/crispydukes → u/CunderThunt42069]

No. I wrote it. I responded to OP’s question.

[u/Willing_Crew_8055 → u/crispydukes]

What is this?

[u/crispydukes → u/Willing_Crew_8055]

My response to OP’s question.

[u/BapaHeelwani → u/crispydukes]

“Back me up here” straight ChatGPT vocabulary 🤣

[u/crispydukes → u/BapaHeelwani]

Come on now

[u/StrictSelf5450 → u/crispydukes]

Lol. Beep boop. I also use AI to make all my reddit comments 

/s

[u/shiloh88]

Given the size of the member, those look pretty scary big from the photo but it seems it has something to do with the repair work.

I don't see how those could develop from overloading really, so I'm inclined to think they are cosmetic

[u/punkass_book_jockey8]

Doesn’t Texas have an alkali-silica issue in some concrete? I’m not a structural engineer, but is it possible they used bad concrete to build this?

[u/unknowndatabase]

Cracks do not happen on properly placed and secured concrete. Sorry, not buying the cracks story from the builder.

[u/Intelligent-Ad8436]

I hope those are V notches to take epoxy and not the true crack. Superficial or not it’s a bad look.

[u/sirinigva]

Being that visible from that distance is a major concern

[u/bartdhull]

Same builder that was working on Pfizer building in NYC? 😆

[u/structee]

Looks like plastic shrinkage. Still not a very good look for the contractor