Material Design and Structural Configuration of Link Slabs for ABC Applications

Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) is now being widely used by the Departments of Transportation because of the reductions of traffic disruption, social cost, environmental impact, and lost time. ABC is also known to improve the work-zone safety, on-site constructability, and project completion time. One of the common techniques in ABC is using Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems (PBES). The bridge components are built outside of the construction area, transported on site, and then rapidly installed. Time lost due to concrete placement, curing in the construction zone, and formwork erection/removal is reduced. Another benefit to using prefabricated structural elements is the improved quality control. Damaging effects due to weather is minimized because elements are built in a controlled environment. Considering the advantages of PBES, a number of research projects have been conducted on the prefabrication and installation of the main structural elements of the bridges. However, there is a gap in the literature on how the long-term performance and durability concerns associated with the joints that connect already high-quality bridge elements may be addressed. One approach that has gained significant attention is to eliminate the joints through revised design strategies. While such strategies have been successfully developed for integral abutments used for ABC applications, no systematic study on removing the expansion joints between bridge girders has been found. To address this issue, the current research project investigates the use of a precast, flexible link slab through a comprehensive set of experimental tests and numerical simulations. The outcome of this project is expected to provide the design guidelines and practical recommendations necessary to properly implement a link slab in the jointless bridges constructed with ABC techniques.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (ABC-UTC)

  Florida International University
  10555 W. Flagler Street
  Miami, FL  United States  33174

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Center for Transportation Research and Education
  2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, IA  United States  50010-8664
• Principal Investigators:

  Shafei, Behrouz

  Phares, Brent

  Taylor, Peter

• Start Date: 20160601
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge design; Bridge members; Durability; Jointless bridges; Prefabricated bridges; Service life; Slabs
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01601734
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (ABC-UTC)
• Files: UTC, RiP
• Created Date: Jun 7 2016 5:57PM