Abstract
Nondestructive tests and field measurements were used to establish the structural details and behavior of a 100-year-old reinforced concrete flat slab bridge. There are no structural drawings of the bridge, its reinforcing details, or records from the time of its original construction. The purpose of this project was to identify the structural details necessary to model the bridge for a determination of its load capacity. This paper discusses the methods used to accomplish this purpose. Live load tests were performed to investigate the overall behavior of the bridge. A finite element model of one span of the 11-span bridge was developed in ABAQUS. Measured strains and deflections served as a basis for calibration of the finite element model. Comparisons of the finite element analysis and live load test results are presented.
Highlights
The highway infrastructure is exposed to an increasing number of vehicles and heavier loads
Values of deflections and strains recorded during the load tests were very small, as expected
FE Model confirmed that the strength of the structure, resulting in small values of strains and deflection under live load, comes from arching action which is strictly associated with the geometry of the bridge
Summary
The highway infrastructure is exposed to an increasing number of vehicles and heavier loads. Existing bridges often carry trucks that are significantly heavier than the original design loads. There is a need for accurate evaluation of the bridges and determination of their actual resistance. Knowledge of the resistance as well as the predicted maximum expected loads, can serve as basis in important decision-making process about prioritization for repair or replacement. The State Departments of Transportations that are responsible for maintenance of roads and bridges, can benefit from having efficient bridge evaluation procedures. The objective of the present study sponsored by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), is to develop an approach for the evaluation of a reinforced concrete rigid frame bridge without any prior technical documentation
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