Development of a Novel Type of Open-Web Continuous Reinforced-Concrete Rigid-Frame Bridge
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 25, Issue 8
Abstract
Long-span continuous reinforced-concrete rigid-frame bridges are sensitive to the shrinkage and creep of concrete and the relaxation of prestressing tendons and have experienced problems related to serviceability loss because of excessive multidecade deflections. Moreover, the large negative bending moment and shear force in the box girder near the piers may lead to cracks in the top slabs and webs. To improve the structural performance and mitigate the long-term deflection of bridges, a novel type of open-web continuous reinforced-concrete rigid-frame bridge was developed during the design of the Beipan River Bridge with a 290-m main span. In this paper, the design and construction techniques of the novel bridge type are summarized first. Then, a structural analysis of the Beipan River Bridge is conducted. The results are compared with conventional rigid-frame bridges. Moreover, the long-term girder deflections are checked through the combined application of monitoring data and finite-element analysis. The results show that the bridge alignment is quite stable during the first 5 years in service and that the open-web design philosophy can effectively mitigate the long-term girder deflections.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all the engineers, technicians, and researchers involved in the design and construction of the Beipan River Bridge. This research was financially supported by the Research Project of CCCC Second Highway Consultants (Contract No. KJFZ-2019-029).
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 25 • Issue 8 • August 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 14, 2019
Accepted: Apr 7, 2020
Published online: Jun 4, 2020
Published in print: Aug 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 4, 2020
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