Construction Response of a Skewed, Prestressed I-Girder Bridge

Abstract

Safety considerations and alignment issues dominate the design of highways and highway bridges and, as a result, skewed girder alignments relative to the abutments and piers are common for highway bridges. It has been reported in the past that approximately 40% of all bridge deck area in North America is on skewed alignments. While number of skewed structures continues to increase, limited research has been performed investigating their behavior. This paper will summarize research conducted at the Pennsylvania State University that examined the level of deformations and stresses generated in a skewed, prestressed, I-girder bridge constructed in central Pennsylvania. Models were created that studied levels of lateral bending and torsion experienced by the girders during deck placement, the effects of deck stiffness development during deck placement, and the effect of support conditions on the constructed bridge. A discussion of the models that were created along with limited findings, focusing on lateral deformations and bending stresses induced during the deck pour, will be given.