Effect of Intermediate Diaphragms on Decked Bulb-Tee Bridge System for Accelerated Construction
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 15, Issue 6
Abstract
One of the promising systems for accelerated bridge construction is the use of the decked precast prestressed concrete girders or decked bulb-tee girders for the bridge superstructure. Using the calibrated three-dimensional finite-element models through field tests, a parametric study was conducted to determine the effect of intermediate diaphragms on the deflections and flexural strains of girders at the midspan as well as the live load forces in the longitudinal joint. The following diaphragm details were considered: different diaphragm types (steel and concrete), different diaphragm numbers between two adjacent girders, and different cross-sectional areas for steel diaphragms. Five bridge models with different diaphragm details were developed, and the short span length effect on the bridge behavior was also studied. It was found that as long as one intermediate diaphragm was provided between two adjacent girders at midspan, changing the diaphragm details did not affect the girder deflection, the girder strain, and the live load forces in the longitudinal joint significantly. The effect of diaphragms on the midspan deflection was more prominent in the short span bridge; however, the reduction in the maximum bending moment by the diaphragms was more significant in the long span bridge than in the short span bridge. Specific design recommendation is provided in this paper.
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Acknowledgments
The writers gratefully acknowledge the support from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (AKDOT&PF) and the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Technical advice from Elmer Marx, Bridge Engineer of AKDOT&PF, is highly appreciated.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 15 • Issue 6 • November 2010
Pages: 715 - 722
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 8, 2009
Accepted: Feb 22, 2010
Published online: Feb 24, 2010
Published in print: Nov 2010
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