Design of timber-concrete composite (TCC) bridges with under-deck stay cables

Abstract

Timber-concrete composite (TCC) bridges represent an attractive structural system due to the synergistic use of its wood and reinforced-concrete constituent components. However, their relatively large flexibility limits their application for larger spans. This paper presents an alternative solution for TCC bridges involving the implementation of post-tensioned under-deck tendons. Based on a series of design and numerical studies, the advantages of the newly proposed system for 30-m, 60-m and 90-m spans are evaluated. This paper shows that the incorporation of under-deck post-tensioning changes the critical limit states governing the design of TCC bridges, and allows for a significant increase in their slendernesses at medium and long spans. Timber’s shear-deformation contribution to the vertical deflection of TCC bridges is significant and should be accounted for, especially when the span/depth ratio (l/h) is less than 20. However, this additional deformation can be neglected when stay cables are implemented, especially for bridges with medium and long spans. In order to achieve a more efficient structure, it is proposed that concrete-to-timber shear connections with an efficiency coefficient (γ) greater than 0.8 be used. Finally, the best practical eccentricity of the under-deck tendons and the best location of the deviators are determined on the basis of parametric analyses.