Tests of RC Deck Girders with 1950s Vintage Details
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 12, Issue 5
Abstract
Large numbers of conventionally reinforced concrete (CRC) bridges in the national bridge inventory built during the 1950s are lightly reinforced for shear. Inspections revealed many of these bridges exhibit diagonal cracks resulting in load postings, monitoring, emergency shoring, repairs, and unscheduled bridge replacements. A research program was conducted to investigate the behavior and capacity of CRC bridge girders with vintage details. Laboratory tests of large-size girders representative of 1950s design and construction practice were carried out. Various steel reinforcement configurations were tested. Loading conditions were varied to reproduce girder behavior at different positions in a bridge and various loading protocols were considered. Test results provide a comprehensive data set for comparison of analysis methods and repair strategies; and indicated that anchorage of flexural steel was key to developing higher ultimate capacity, initial crack damage may not necessarily contribute to the final failure mode, and crack width alone may not indicate the level of damage to the beam.
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Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. The writers would like to thank Mr. Steven Soltesz, the research project coordinator from the Oregon Department of Transportation, for his assistance. They are also grateful to Ms. Michelle Chavez for her assistance in the experimental testing and data reduction.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 12 • Issue 5 • September 2007
Pages: 621 - 631
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 27, 2005
Accepted: May 25, 2006
Published online: Sep 1, 2007
Published in print: Sep 2007
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