Improved Load Rating of an Open-Spandrel Reinforced-Concrete Arch Bridge
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 32, Issue 4
Abstract
An open-spandrel reinforced-concrete arch bridge in west central Indiana was load posted on the basis of a simplified analytical evaluation. The posting was controlled by the shear-strength limit state of the transverse floor beams. Although transverse reinforcement was provided according to the original construction plans, there were regions that lacked shear reinforcement, which deemed these members critical. This paper presents the results of an analytical and experimental evaluation performed on one of the critical members of the bridge. The analytical models considered a spatial structural analysis of the bridge deck and a three-dimensional finite-element analysis of the entire bridge structure. Five static truck tests were also conducted to compare the measured response with those obtained analytically. The load rating of the bridge was conducted by using the live-load test results and finite-element analysis. Using simplified structural analysis does not always provide accurate load-rating results for all limit states. Moreover, the use of load testing and refined analysis demonstrated that the bridge exhibited a higher load-carrying capacity than the original posting load.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the Joint Transportation Research Program administered by the Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein, and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the sponsoring organizations. These contents do not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The authors also wish to thank the traffic control group and personnel from the INDOT Crawfordsville District Office for their generous assistance during the testing of the bridge.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 32 • Issue 4 • August 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 1, 2017
Accepted: Dec 19, 2017
Published online: Apr 25, 2018
Published in print: Aug 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Sep 25, 2018
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