Design and Construction of Wide-Flange Precast Concrete Deck Girders with Ultra-High Performance Concrete Connections for Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems/Accelerated Bridge Construction

In spite of the benefits of deck girder bridge systems for prefabricated bridge elements and systems (PBES)/accelerated bridge construction (ABC), their usage has been limited to relatively short span and low traffic bridges because of their long term performance of their connections, and difficulties in accommodating super-elevation transitions on bridge decks, pier skews, differential camber, shipping, and handling stability. Skewed girders cause bridge deck profile problems because the cambers in adjacent girders do not align. The diaphragms are then difficult to connect and/or quite big forces are induced if they are used to bring the girders into line. In order to optimize the decked bulb tee design, the longitudinal joint between flanges must have sufficient stiffness such that the same live load distribution factor can be used as for I-girder bridges with cast-in-place decks. There are a myriad of potential variables for the joint including width, bar size, bar spacing, bar detailing (straight, bent, or headed), and black or epoxy bars. The variable flange thickness (thicker near the web) will help the ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) joint, by attracting much of the total static moment due to a wheel load toward the negative moment region at the web and away from the mid-span region where the UHPC joint is located. Research is needed to investigate design, fabrication, transportation, and construction of precast deck girder bridges. Other factors such as connections between adjacent units, longitudinal joints, live load distribution, continuity for live load, skew effects, and suitability of lightweight aggregates concrete need to be addressed by this research. The research should focus on optimizing the joint width. This project should address the constructability aspects and suggest methods of leveling the girders, how to determine the size of the leveling equipment needed, and means of holding the girders in the level position to allow the leveling equipment to be removed before the flange connections are fully cured. The objective of this research is to implement design, fabrication, transportation, and construction algorithms and to develop suitable details for the connection for prefabricated deck girders with UHPC for PBES/ABC.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4204
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $500000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 18-18

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Dekelbab, Waseem

• Start Date: 20160512
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Source Data: RiP Project 40850

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge decks; Bridge members; Cast in place concrete; Girder bridges; Precast concrete; Prefabricated bridges; Skew bridges; Ultra high performance concrete
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01598999
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 18-18
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 12 2016 1:00AM