Full-Scale AASHTO Type II Girders Prestressed with Stainless Steel Strands
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 9
Abstract
Stainless steel strands are a new technology and option available for the bridge industry. They have high corrosion resistance, which will result in more durable and low-maintenance concrete bridges. However, stainless steel strands have lower ductility and different stress–strain behavior than carbon steel strands, affecting the design criteria for prestressed concrete girders. Stainless steel strands have already been deployed in substructure components (piles) in many projects around the United States. However, due to their low ductility and lack of full-scale research studies and structural design approaches, they have not yet been deployed in flexural members. This study investigates the flexural behavior of stainless steel strand prestressed concrete girders. Five full-scale 12.8-m (42-ft)-long AASHTO Type II girders prestressed with 15.2-mm (0.6-in.)-diameter duplex high-strength stainless steel (HSSS) strands were designed, fabricated, and tested in flexure. The prestressing reinforcement ratio was varied in this experimental program. The transfer length and prestress losses of 15.2-mm (0.6-in.)-diameter HSSS strands were measured. The flexural behavior of the girders was assessed by the evaluation of cracking load, ultimate load-carrying capacity, load-deflection response, and failure mode. As designed, all girders failed due to rupture of the HSSS strands. Experimental results showed that, although the HSSS strand has low ductility and it may control the capacity of the girders, adequate warning (noticeable deflection and many cracks before failure) can be achieved in HSSS strand prestressed concrete girders. The predicted analytical and numerical moment strengths of the five girders were in close agreement with those measured experimentally. Although the analytical model gave better predictions, the numerical approach is easier to use for design. A flexural design approach for HSSS strand prestressed concrete I-girders is proposed where rupture of strands is an acceptable failure mode. The findings from this experimental program will be useful for the development of new design specifications for concrete girders prestressed with stainless steel strands.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to express their gratitude and sincere appreciation to the Florida Department of Transportation for funding this study. Special thanks are extended to Sam Fallaha, Will Potter, and Vickie Young for their technical guidance. Also, the authors thank Steve Eudy, Justin Robertson, Paul Tighe, Ben Allen, Miguel Ramirez, and Michael Waters at the Florida Department of Transportation Structures Research Center for their assistance in testing specimens; the work was enjoyable and well-executed because of their expertise and enthusiasm. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Florida Department of Transportation or the US Department of Transportation.
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Sep 21, 2020
Accepted: May 19, 2021
Published online: Jul 6, 2021
Published in print: Sep 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 6, 2021
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Cited by
- Anwer Al-Kaimakchi, Michelle Rambo-Roddenberry, Structural behavior of concrete girders prestressed and reinforced with stainless steel materials, Structures, 10.1016/j.istruc.2021.08.134, 35, (1191-1203), (2022).