Fatigue Loading and Temperature Distribution in Single Cell Segmental Box Bridges
Publication: Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 13, Issue 3
Abstract
Precast segmental construction offers many advantages, such as construction economy, simplicity of construction, and reduced maintenance cost. Repeated loading due to moving vehicular loads on the bridges may soften the concrete in due course of time and cause early cracks and larger deflections. This loading in segmental bridges may also cause openings of the joints between the segments. This paper presents the results of an experimental study of a single cell precast posttensioned segmental box bridge system subjected to cyclic loading and temperature changes. The test bridge system is a 1:3.5 scale model of the Long Key Bridge in the Florida Keys. The behavior of the bridge model was examined under fatigue loading, with emphasis on joint performance and flexural stiffness. The temperature distribution of the bridge system was also measured, and compared with analytical predictions. The performance of the bridge model was evaluated in terms of deflections, strains in the concrete and strains across the joints, and cracking behavior of joints between the segments with an increasing number of cycles of fatigue loading. The studies indicated that the behavior of joints between the segments under static and fatigue loadings was satisfactory up to two million cycles. No joint openings or cracks were observed at the joints under the loading. The temperature distribution of the bridge model was also studied using finite-element analysis and the predicted temperatures across the cross section were compared with the observed values.
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Acknowledgments
The writers wish to express sincere thanks to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the financial support of the study presented in this paper (research project: “Static and Fatigue Behavior of Precast Single Cell Segmental Box Bridges with External Posttensioning,” Contract No. WPI 0510402; Principal investigators: Dr. D. V. Reddy and Dr. M. Arockiasamy, and Project Manager: Dr. M. Shahawy). The writers wish to express their appreciation to Dr. P. Scarlatos, Professor and Chair, Department of Civil Engineering, and Dr. Karl K. Stevens, Dean, College of Engineering, Florida Atlantic University for their continued interest and encouragement. The writers would like to acknowledge the contribution of former graduate students—V. Sinha and G. Murugesh to the project study.
References
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© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 20, 2006
Accepted: Nov 27, 2006
Published online: Aug 1, 2008
Published in print: Aug 2008
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