Evaluating the Impact of Bridge-Deck Removal on the Performance of Precast/Prestressed Concrete I-Girders

Precast/prestressed concrete I-girders with wide and thin top flanges have been widely used by several transportation agencies in the last two decades. These girders have many advantages, such as accommodating a large number of prestressing strands, having a reduced girder weight, and providing greater stability in construction and an adequate platform for workers. Despite these advantages, the wide and thin top flange might be disadvantageous when it comes to deck removal, as it is more susceptible to damage. In this paper, the impact of deck removal on the performance of supporting girders is investigated. Two methods, saw-cutting and jackhammering, were implemented on the Camp Creek Bridge over I-80 in Lancaster County, Nebraska, before demolition due to its functional obsolesces. Different saw-cutting and jackhammering techniques were performed for deck removal between girders and on top of girder flange. Also, two girders from the bridge were taken to the lab for structural testing after applying different deck removal methods and redecking. Test results indicated adequate performance of the girder with reduced flange width even when partial deck removal around shear connectors is applied. Also, an analytical investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of top flange width on the performance of bridge I-girders under service and ultimate loads. Investigation results indicate that in several cases top flange width does not have a significant impact on the structural performance of I-girders.