Transverse Cracking of Concrete Bridge Decks: Effects of Design Factors
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VIEW THE ORIGINAL ARTICLEPublication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 10, Issue 5
Abstract
Early transverse cracking is one of the dominant forms of bridge deck defects experienced by a large number of transportation agencies. These cracks often initiate soon after the bridge deck is constructed, and they are caused by restrained shrinkage of concrete. Transverse cracks increase the maintenance cost of a bridge structure and reduce its life span. Most of the past efforts addressing transverse bridge deck cracking have focused on changes over the years in concrete material properties and construction practices. However, recent studies have shown the importance of design factors on transverse bridge deck cracking. This paper presents results of a comprehensive finite-element (FE) study of deck and girder bridge systems to understand and evaluate crack patterns, stress histories, as well as the relative effect of different design factors such as structural stiffness on transverse deck cracking. The results of this study demonstrate the development of transverse deck cracking and emphasize the importance of these design factors. They also recommend preventive measures that can be adopted during the design stage in order to minimize the probability of transverse deck cracking.
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Acknowledgments
This research study was supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)/Federal Highway Administration and the National Center for Transportation and Industrial Productivity (NCTIP) at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. This support as well as the assistance of NJDOT staff in providing material and design data on bridges is greatly appreciated.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 10 • Issue 5 • September 2005
Pages: 511 - 519
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 15, 2003
Accepted: Feb 8, 2005
Published online: Sep 1, 2005
Published in print: Sep 2005
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