Composite Tub Girder Live Load Testing and Shear Force Distribution

The newly developed composite tub (CT) girder has been deployed on US Rt. 1A in Hampden, Maine, and a second CT girder bridge is scheduled for completion on Rt. 69 in Hampden. While laboratory testing has proven the strength and stiffness of these composite girders, field testing is important to assess in-service response. Further, current design methods are relatively complex because of the lack of AASHTO code provisions for this type of girder. Both of these issues can limit the acceptance and use of the CT girder system. With support of the MaineDOT (traffic control, UBIT), UMaine will instrument and live load test both CT girder bridges in Hampden, Maine. In addition to flexural strains, we will measure web shear strains in all girders at one support to determine the distribution of live load shears between girders. In addition to giving a complete picture of in-service girder response, the data gathered from these tests will provide a complete picture of in-service girder response. The proposed testing is critical to leveraging a larger, separately funded TIDC project focused on the development of design guidelines for live load distribution in CT girder bridges

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Programmed
• Funding: $45000
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Maine Department of Transportation

  16 Statehouse Station
  Augusta, ME  United States  04333
• Performing Organizations:

  Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

  University of Maine
  Orono, ME  United States  04469
• Principal Investigators:

  Davids, Bill

• Start Date: 20220228
• Expected Completion Date: 20230501
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Girders
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01790305
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maine Department of Transportation
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 3 2021 11:47AM