The main structural elements used for bridges are drilled shafts. The effective use and design of drilled shafts requires knowledge of the construction methods used for these foundation elements. Drilled shaft construction is sensitive to the ground conditions encountered at the site, and the costs and magnitude of effort involved are closely tied to the ground conditions and the construction techniques that must be used for a particular circumstance. The course material is based entirely on the Publication No. FHWA-NHI-10-016:Drilled Shafts: Chapter Number 4 of Construction Procedures and LRFD Design Methods.

At the conclusion of this course, the learner will have a better understanding of Construction Methods of Transportation Engineering Structural Elements used for Bridges as well as an understanding of the following topics:

• Various construction methods of drilled shafts
• The physical characteristics of soil materials
• Engineering properties of construction materials used for structural elements of bridges
• Construction equipment used for drilled shaft foundation construction