#LearnPrecast
Project Precast 2024 Application CLOSED
Applications due by midnight Sunday, October 15, 2023
Notifications by November 1, 2023
Idaho State University

The proposed PCI Engineering Design Studio at Idaho State University (ISU) will be incorporated into the curriculum of the civil and environmental engineering department as a new technical elective “PCI Engineering Design Studio” (CE 4499/5599). The studio will be a 3-unit engineering class. It will be offered once every year during the fall semester. A summary of the activities for the studio is charted out as follows.
Year 1
Studio I: Precast Bridges (3 units)
* Introduction to precast/prestressed concrete
* Plant tours to Teton Prestress Concrete in Idaho Falls
* Presentations by Idaho Transportation Department, Sika, Forterra Structural Precast, PCI Mountain States, HDR, and Lochner
* Precast bridges, basic structural analysis/design, construction technologies, hydraulic considerations
* Precast bridge site visit (non-seismic)
* Introduction to precast buildings/differences between precast bridges and buildings
* Bridge aesthetic using precast concrete
* Bridge competition: Construction and testing of precast bridge specimens under gravity loads considering strength, weight, cost, durability, and aesthetic
Year 2
Studio II: Precast Culverts (3 units)
* Introduction to precast/prestressed concrete
* Plant tours to OldCastle Precast in Spokane, Washington
* Presentations by PCI Mountain States, OldCastle Precast, Teton Prestress, HDR, and Lochner
* Introduction to hydraulics of culverts
* Fish passage in culverts
* Precast culverts, basic structural analysis/design, construction technologies
* Precast culvert site visit (non-seismic)
* Introduction to precast bridges/differences between precast culverts and bridges
* Precast culvert competition: Construction and testing of precast culvert specimens under gravity/flooding, considering strength, weight, cost, hydraulics, durability, and aesthetic
Year 3
Studio III: Precast Bridges - Seismic (3 units)
* Introduction to precast/prestressed concrete
* Plant tours to Forterra Structural Precast in Salt Lake City, Utah
* Presentations by PCI Mountain States Idaho Transportation Department, Sika, Forterra Structural Precast, Lochner, and JUB
* Precast bridges, basic structural analysis/design, seismic considerations, construction technologies, hydraulics
* Emulative and non-emulative cast-in-place seismic design technologies for precast bridges
* Experimental demonstration for nonemulative/ low-damage seismic design
* Precast bridge site visit (seismic zone)
* Introduction to precast buildings/differences between precast bridges and buildings
* Bridge competition: Construction and testing of precast bridge specimens under seismic loads, considering resiliency, repairability, durability, weight, cost, and aesthetic
Year 4
Studio IV: Precast Culverts - Seismic (3 units)
* Introduction to precast/prestressed concrete
* Plant tours to OldCastle Precast in Spokane, Washington
* Presentations by Idaho Transportation Department, PCI Mountain States, OldCastle Precast, Teton Prestress, HDR, and Lochner,
* Introduction to hydraulics of culverts
* Basic seismic design considerations for precast culverts
* Precast culvert site visit (seismic zone)
* Introduction to precast bridges/differences between precast culverts and bridges
* Precast culvert competition: Construction and testing of precast culvert specimens under seismic loads, considering resiliency, repairability, durability, weight, cost, and aesthetic