Experimental Investigation of a Full-Scale Spread Slab Beam Bridge
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 21, Issue 11
Abstract
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) uses precast prestressed concrete slab beams in a side-by-side configuration for short-span bridges in low-clearance areas. To reduce costs, a new bridge type called a spread slab beam bridge was recently developed using the same concept as spread box beam bridges in which the beams are spaced apart. A full-scale spread slab beam bridge was constructed and tested under static and dynamic vehicular loads to evaluate constructability and structural performance. The load-distribution behavior was investigated through field testing, and experimental live-load distribution factors (LLDFs) were evaluated using alignments that provided the most adverse loading cases. The measured response provides detailed experimental data to validate computational modeling techniques for this new class of bridge systems. Research findings show that spread slab beam systems provide a viable construction method for short-span bridges, and that the desired performance was achieved for in-service loading. During field testing, the beam live-load deflections were within the design limits, and no significant cracking or reduction in the overall stiffness of the bridge was observed.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as part of TxDOT Project 0-6722. The authors are grateful to the TxDOT personnel who provided invaluable assistance, including Wade Odell, Mark Steves, John Holt, Tommy Abrego, Rex Costley, Bernie Holder, Manuel Padron, Jefferey Tomkins, Aaron Bloom, John Grissom, and Lewis Gamboa. The TTI Construction Group at Riverside, led by Gary Gerke and Eddie Haug, provided invaluable advice and assistance during the Riverside Bridge construction. The authors also thank the many graduate and undergraduate students who assisted in the construction of the Riverside Bridge.
References
AASHO (American Association of State Highway Officials). (1961). Standard specifications for highway bridges, Washington, DC.
AASHTO. (1994). AASHTO LRFD bridge design specifications, 1st Ed., Customary US Units, Washington, DC.
AASHTO. (1996). Standard specifications for highway bridges, 16th Ed., Washington, DC.
AASHTO. (2012). AASHTO LRFD bridge design specifications, Washington, DC.
Abaqus 6 [Computer software]. Dassault Systemes, S. A., Simulia, Providence, RI.
Barr, P. J., Eberhard, M. O., and Stanton, J. F. (2001). “Live load distribution factors in prestressed concrete girder bridges.” J. Bridge Eng., 298–306.
CSiBridge [Computer software]. Integrated 3-D bridge analysis, design and rating, Computers and Structures, Inc., Walnut Creek, CA.
Douglas, W. J., and Vanhorn, D. A. (1966). “Lateral distribution of static loads in a prestressed concrete box-beam bridge—Drehersville Bridge.” Project 315, Fritz Engineering Laboratory, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA.
Eom, J., and Nowak, A. S. (2001). “Live load distribution for steel girder bridges.” J. Bridge Eng., 489–497.
Hueste, M. D., Mander, J. B., Terzioglu, T., Jiang, D., and Petersen-Gauthier, J. (2014). “Spread prestressed concrete slab beam bridges.” Research Rep. No. FHWA/TX-14/0 6722-1, Texas A&M Transportation Institute and Texas Dept. of Transportation, Austin, TX.
Kim, S., and Nowak, A. S. (1997). “Load distribution and impact for I-girder bridges.” J. Bridge Eng., 97–104.
McKee, D. C., and Turner, H. T. (1975). “Design and review of precast concrete bridge elements.” FHWA-LDH-LSU(75-1ST), Federal Highway Administration and Louisiana Dept. of Highways, Washington, DC.
Panak, J. J. (1982). “Economical precast concrete bridges.” FHWA-TX-83-08 + 226-1F Final Rep., Federal Highway Administration and Texas Dept. of Highway & Public Transportation, Austin, TX.
Puckett, J. A., Huo, S. X., Jablin, M., and Mertz, D. R. (2011). “Framework for simplified live load distribution-factor computations.” J. Bridge Eng., 777–791.
Schwarz, M., and Laman, J. A. (2001). “Response of prestressed concrete I-girder bridges to live load.” J. Bridge Eng., 1–8.
Sotelino, E. D., Liu, J., Chung, W., and Phuvoravan, K. (2004). “Simplified load distribution factor for use in LRFD design.” Publication FHWA/IN/JTRP-2004/20, Joint Transportation Research Program, Indiana Dept. of Transportation and Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN.
Zokaie, T., Imbsen, R. A., and Osterkamp, T. A. (1991). “Distribution of wheel loads on highway bridges.” NCHRP Project Rep. 12-26, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 21 • Issue 11 • November 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 2, 2015
Accepted: May 10, 2016
Published online: Jun 27, 2016
Published in print: Nov 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Nov 27, 2016
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.