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Earlier this month, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recognized the Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI) for its work involving a Hybrid Composite Beam (HCB). TTCI Principal Engineer Duane Otter and HCB inventor John Hillman will be honored at an ASCE gala this spring in Washington, D.C., for their collaborative efforts.

TTCI tested the prototype HCB® span for 1.5 million load cycles under heavy freight-rail traffic and recently completed follow-up testing of a commercially produced HCB span. The span later will be monitored in revenue service on a nearby rail line.

HCB is a new type of structural member developed for use on highway and railroad bridges, as well as in marine facilities and other structures. The beam's three main subcomponents are a shell, compression reinforcement and tension reinforcement. The HCB combines the strength and stiffness of conventional concrete and steel with the lightweight and corrosion advantages of advanced composite materials, according to TTCI.

"Introducing a new technology in the transportation industry is a daunting task," said Hillman in a prepared statement. "Duane Otter did an exemplary job serving as an advocate for new technology and encouraging the support from the Association of American Railroads' Bridge Technical Advisory Group to have the first HCB bridge deployed to the Transportation Technology Center for installation and testing."