Shear Key Performance in Multibeam Box Girder Bridges
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 9, Issue 4
Abstract
This report describes a series of field tests of multibeam prestressed box girder bridges. The objective of the test was to investigate the in-situ performance of the grouted shear keys, located at the longitudinal joints between adjacent girders. The longevity of these joints can be a problem with this type of bridge; failure of the joint will typically not only compromise the load-sharing mechanism between adjacent girders, but also lead to the failure of the deck waterproofing system, with attendant corrosion problems. The tests consisted of monitoring relative displacements occurring across the intergirder joints, as well as bending strains in the girders themselves during passes of a preweighted tandem-axle dump truck, with axle loads typically in the range of 84.7 kN (19 kips). Relative displacements were measured with an especially designed transducer, having a resolution on the order of .00254 mm (0.1 mil), which was bonded to the underside of the bridge across the intergirder joints. Bending strains in the girders were measured with conventional foil strain gauges, having a gauge length of 38 mm (1.5 in.). All bridges tested exhibited relative displacements across at least some of the joints, which indicated a fractured shear key.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Annamalai, G., and Brown, R. C.(1990). “Shear transfer behavior of posttensioned grouted shear-key connections in precast concrete-framed structures.”ACI Struct. J., 87(1), 53–59.
2.
Bakht, B., Jaeger, L. G., and Cheung, M. S.(1983). “Transverse shear in multibeam bridges.”J. Struct. Div., ASCE, 109(4), 936–949.
3.
Cheung, M. S., Bakht, B., and Jaeger, L. G.(1982). “Analysis of box girder by grillage and orthotropic plate methods.”Can. J. Civ. Engrg., 9(4), 595–601.
4.
Huckelbridge, A. A., El-Esnawi, H., and Moses, F. (1993). “An investigation of load transfer in multi-beam prestressed box girder bridges,”Final Rep., Ohio Dept. of Transp./FHWA, Columbus, Ohio.
5.
Y., Connor, J. J., Triantafillou, and T. C., and Leung(1993a). “Fracture mechanics approach for failure of concrete shear key I: theory,”J. Engrg. Mech., ASCE, 119(4), 681–699.
6.
Kaneko, Y., Connor, J. J., Traiantafillou, T. C., and Leung, C. K.(1993b). “Fracture mechanics approach for failure of concrete shear key. II: verification.”J. Engrg. Mech., ASCE, 119(4), 701–719.
7.
Standard Specification for Highway Bridges. Fifteenth Ed., American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Washington, D.C.
8.
Stanton, J. F., and Mattlock, A. H. (1986). “Load distribution and connection design for precast stemmed multi-beam bridge superstructures.”NCHRP Rep. 287, Transp. Res. Board, Washington, D.C.
9.
Young, D., and Huckelbridge, A. A. (1993). “Effect of relative flexural/torsional characteristics upon load distribution on multi-beam prestressed concrete bridges.”Final Rep., Ohio Dept. of Transp./FHWA, Columbus, Ohio.
10.
Zokaie, T., Osterkamp, T. A., and Imbsen, R. A. (1991). “Distribution of wheel loads on highway bridges.”Final Rep. NCHRP 12-26, Transp. Res. Board, Washington, D.C.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Nov 1, 1995
Published in print: Nov 1995
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.