A Simplified Approach to Bridge Substructure Design

Abstract

Strut-and-tie modeling is an analysis and design tool for reinforced concrete elements in which it may be assumed that internal stresses are transferred through a truss mechanism. The tensile ties and compressive struts serve as truss members connected by nodal zones. The internal truss idealized by the strut-and-tie model implicitly account for the distribution of both flexure and shear. In 1998, the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Specifications (1998) incorporated the strut-and-tie modeling procedure for the analysis and design of deep reinforced concrete members where sectional design approaches are not valid. In most instances, hammerhead piers can be defined as deep reinforced concrete members and therefore, should be designed using the strut-and-tie modeling approach. However, most bridge designers have not embraced the strut-and-tie model due to the unfamiliarity with the design procedure, the inability to check the truss model’s validity (without laboratory tests or a finite element model), and the time it takes to complete the strut-and-tie model analysis and design. Therefore, with the formulation of a well-defined strut-and-tie modeling procedure, practicing engineers will become more comfortable with the design method and employ the method more often and more consistently. This paper presents a uniform design procedure for employing strut-and-tie modeling for hammerhead piers that can be readily utilized by practicing engineers. Additionally, a comparison between the strut-and-tie method and standard sectional design practices will be performed for a typical hammerhead pier.