Field Investigation of a Sandwich Plate System Bridge Deck
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 22, Issue 5
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a live-load test of the Shenley Bridge, the first bridge application of the sandwich plate system technology in North America. The investigation focused on the evaluation of in-service performance including lateral load distribution behavior and dynamic load allowance. Real-time midspan deflections and strain values were measured under both static and dynamic conditions and under various loading configurations to assess the in-service performance. Distribution factors were determined for interior and exterior girders subjected to single and paired truck loadings. In addition, dynamic load allowance was determined from a comparison of the bridge’s response under static conditions to the response under dynamic conditions. From a comparison of measured results to AASHTO LRFD, AASHTO standard, and CHBDC provisions, it was determined that the current provisions tend to produce conservative predictions for lateral load distribution, but can be unconservative for dynamic load allowance. As a result of the testing program containing a single field test, a finite-element model was also used for determination of lateral load distribution and yielded predictions similar to measured results. The results from the finite-element models were often less conservative than the code provisions.
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Acknowledgments
This work is part of a project sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) with support from the Innovative Bridge Research and Construction program. The writers would like to thank Intelligent Engineering (IE) and the CANAM Group for their assistance on the project and also the Transportation Ministry of Québec (MTQ) for their support during the testing. The authors would especially like to thank Dr. Michael Brown and Bernard Kassner from VTRC for their assistance during the field testing.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 22 • Issue 5 • October 2008
Pages: 305 - 315
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: May 25, 2007
Accepted: Nov 20, 2007
Published online: Oct 1, 2008
Published in print: Oct 2008
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