Tennessee Researchers Test Bridge Beams Against Impacts

Engineers at the University of Tennessee are utilizing a custom drop tower to develop more durable bridge beam designs.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Physics

Isometric editorial illustration showing a concrete beam suspended within an industrial drop test frame. — Researchers at the University of Tennessee are testing new reinforced bridge beam designs to mitigate structural damage from vehicle strikes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Researchers at the University of Tennessee are using a new drop tower to test bridge beam designs against vehicle strikes. This effort aims to improve the structural integrity of infrastructure throughout Tennessee.

Why it matters

Vehicle strikes on older bridge supports cause significant structural damage and leave steel vulnerable to corrosion. New beam designs could provide a cost-effective way to strengthen existing infrastructure.

The testing apparatus uses a 1,500-pound weight released from heights up to 12 feet to subject three distinct test beams to impact forces. Researchers evaluated 40 bridges across the state to inform the simulation models used in the project.

The players

University of Tennessee

This public research university hosts the engineering team and the drop tower facility used for infrastructure testing.

Tennessee Department of Transportation

This state agency oversees the maintenance and safety of the 20,000 bridges located throughout Tennessee.

Federal Highway Administration

This federal agency provides support and oversight for national transportation projects and infrastructure research.

Ross Prestressed Concrete Inc.

This company manufactured the three specialized beams used by researchers for the drop tower impact experiments.

The details

The project includes the creation of two new beam designs tested within a drop tower featuring secondary support chains and containment grating. These tests are intended to help the Tennessee Department of Transportation address damage patterns seen in the state, including one Memphis bridge that sustained 13 vehicle strikes.

Over the past year, the team completed design reviews and constructed the drop tower.
October 20, 2026, marked the publication of this research.

The Big Picture

The project extends the Federal Highway Administration bridge safety standards by providing empirical data on beam performance under impact. This work shifts the focus toward developing proactive, impact-resistant structural components rather than relying solely on traditional repair methods.

These designs could eventually lead to more resilient public infrastructure that requires fewer repairs after vehicle collisions. Improved bridge durability may help lower long-term maintenance costs for the 20,000 bridges maintained across Tennessee.

The takeaway

Engineering research into bridge durability highlights the practical need for infrastructure designs that can withstand frequent accidental impacts. Implementing these robust beam designs could mitigate structural damage and reduce the frequency of traffic-disrupting repairs.