Practical Tool to Accurately Estimate Tensile Stresses in Concrete Bridge Decks to Control Transverse Cracking
Publication: Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 8, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper describes a simple method to estimate tensile stresses due to early age time dependent loadings in concrete bridge decks with full composite action between the deck and girder. These stresses can cause transverse deck cracking if they exceed the modulus of rupture for concrete, and need to be checked. A system of equations for a pin-roller supported composite girder is developed to estimate the deck stresses due to the volume change in concrete caused by shrinkage and/or other effects. These equations are further extended to consider different boundary conditions. The results of this method agree very well with the results of finite-element analyses. It is proposed that this practical method be used as a tool during bridge design to examine concrete bridge deck stresses against the possibility of transverse cracking. A Microsoft Windows application that is easy to use is developed and presented. Furthermore, an overview of factors causing the volume change in bridge deck concrete and their typical magnitude is presented herein to further simplify the use of this practical method.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). (1998). “AASHTO LRFD bridge design specification–U.S.” 2nd Ed., Washington, D.C.
American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 209. (1998). “Prediction of creep, shrinkage, and temperature effects in concrete structures.” ACI 209R-92, Detroit.
Cady, P. D., and Carrier, R. E. (1971a). “Final report on durability of bridge deck concrete. Part 1: Effect of construction practice on durability—PennDOT Contract 31057-H.” Rep., Dept. of Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, Pa.
Cady, P. D., and Carrier, R. E. (1971b). “Final report on durability of bridge deck concrete. Part 2: Moisture content of bridge decks—PennDOT Contract 31057-H.” Rep., Dept. of Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, Pa.
Cady, P. D., Carrier, R. E., Bkar, T., and Theisen, J. C. (1971). “Final report on durability of bridge deck concrete. Part 3: Condition of 249 four year old bridge decks—PennDOT Contract 31057-H.” Rep., Dept. of Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, Pa.
Cheng, T. T., and Johnson, D. W. (1985). “Incidence assessment of transverse cracking in bridge decks: Construction and material consideration.” FHWA/NC/85-002, Vol. 1.
French, C., Eppers, L., Le, Q., and Hajjar, J. F. (1999). “Transverse cracking in concrete bridge decks.” Transportation Research Record 1688, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 21–29.
Hadidi, R., Saadeghvaziri, M. A., and Hsu, C. T. T. (2000). “Cause and control of transverse deck cracking in concrete bridge deck.” FHWA-NJ-2002-19, New Jersey Department of Transportation, Trenton, N.J.
Horn, M. W., Stewart, C. F., and Boulware, R. L. (1972). “Webber Creek deck crack study—Final report.” Rep. CA-HWY-BD-624102(2)-72-2, State of California, Business and Transportation Agency, Department of Public Works, Sacramento, Calif., and Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.
Kosel, H. C., and Michols, K. A. (1985). “Evaluation of concrete deck cracking for selected bridge deck structures of Ohio Turnpike.” Rep., Ohio Turnpike Commission, Construction Transportation Laboratories (CTL), Skokie, Ill.
Krauss, P. D., and Rogalla, E. A. (1996). “Transverse cracking in newly constructed bridge decks.” NCHRP Rep. 380, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Portland Cement Association. (1970). “Final report—Durability of concrete bridge decks: A cooperative study.” Skokie, Ill.
Ramey, G. E., Wolff, A. R., and Wright, R. L. (1997). “Structural design actions to mitigate bridge deck cracking.” Prac. Period. Struct. Design Constr., 2(3), 118–124.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 8 • Issue 2 • May 2003
Pages: 74 - 82
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 8, 2002
Accepted: Apr 24, 2002
Published online: Apr 15, 2003
Published in print: May 2003
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.