01626631

Component

Arching action has shown a significant positive effect to the performance of bridge decks. Yet, in case of bridge widening, some requirements for utilizing arching action in design are not satisfied. This paper explores the effect of arching action on bridge decks, including those that are undergoing widening, in light of the availability of relatively new prestressed concrete beams (e.g. Florida I-Beam “FIB”) with wider top flanges. The research team conducted a study and developed a spreadsheet to estimate the deck capacity in a typical widening configuration using four methods from the literature. It was found that decks supported on prestressed concrete FIB beams with wide top flanges benefit from the high lateral stiffness even in deck widening configurations. Based on the results of the analytical study reported in this paper, experimental laboratory work, was designed and a full-scale bridge specimen was fabricated and tested, yet not reported in this paper. The bridge had two 47-ft-long FIB 36 beams spaced at 14 feet to support an 8-inch-thick bridge deck. The deck width extended 2 feet beyond the beam flange edge on one side and ended at 6 inches off of the center of the other beam, thus simulating deck continuity and jack hammering, respectively, in a widening project. This paper presents the analytical investigation and detailed comparison between the four design methods. This study also investigated the effect of different parameters including deck thickness and beam spacing on the bridge lateral stiffness and the deck ultimate capacity.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFF30 Standing Committee on Concrete Bridges.

01618707

17-03935

English

17p

2017

Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Analysis; Bridge decks; Bridge design; Flanges; I beams; Mechanical properties; Pavement widening; Prestressed concrete; Spacing; Stiffness; Thickness

Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2017 Paper #17-03935

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 8 2016 11:30AM