Long-term Deflections in Balanced Cantilever Prestressed Concrete Bridges

Abstract

Long-term deflections in balanced cantilever prestressed concrete bridges are reviewed. Burri and Shambat Bridges are taken as cases study to calculate long-term deflection. The two bridges were constructed at Khartoum State in the years 1972 and 1962, respectively. Due to the shortage of the basic data regarding the two bridges the AASHTO-LRFD is used to estimate and calculate the missing data in the two bridges. The Moment Area method is used to calculate the long-term deflections due to the dead load, live load and prestressing force. The calculated long-term deflections are compared with measured live load deflections obtained from load tests made by a Chinese contractor requested to evaluate the two bridges. Remarkable differences between theoretical and measured deflection at the end of cantilevers are encountered. The differences are probably due to the basic assumptions made in the formulations of deflection calculations. Some adjustments in the long-term deflection formulae are suggested to bring the calculated deflections in compatibility with measured ones.