Evaluation of Cracks in a Large Single-Cell Precast Concrete Segmental Box Girder Bridge without Internal Struts
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 20, Issue 8
Abstract
The Hathaway Bridge, an eastbound and westbound bridge pair, is located in Panama City, Florida. Each of the pair consists of a single-box precast concrete segmental girder with a deck width of 24.4 m (80 ft). The lengths of the eastbound and westbound bridges are 1,031.43 and 1,162.93 m (3,384 and 3,815 ft), respectively. To date, these are the largest single-cell precast segments without internal struts fabricated in the United States. During construction, many web cracks developed in the external anchorage areas. The purpose of this investigation is to identify the main causes of the cracks and provide some design recommendations for large precast concrete segmental box girders. First, a brief description of the bridge is given. Then, analytical models for the bridge, posttensioning forces, and construction forces are presented. The analytical results show that the external longitudinal posttensioning forces can cause significant high-tensile stresses in the interior face of the web around the anchorages. The information presented in this paper can assist bridge engineers in the design of concrete segmental box girder bridges.
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Acknowledgments
The authors express their sincere appreciation to Mr. John Previte for his valuable comments and support received during the research. The opinions and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Florida DOT.
References
AASHTO. (1998). LRFD bridge design specifications, 2nd Ed., Washington, DC.
AASHTO. (2013). LRFD bridge design specifications, 5th Ed., Washington, DC.
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Huang, D. Z. and Shahawy, M. (2005). “Analysis of tensile stresses in transfer zone of prestressed concrete U-beams.” Proc., Design of Structures 2005, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 134–141.
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© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 22, 2014
Accepted: Oct 9, 2014
Published online: Nov 3, 2014
Published in print: Aug 1, 2015
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