Structural Condition Assessment and Service Load Performance of Deteriorated Pretensioned Deck Beam Bridges

Hawkins, Neil M.; Fuentes, Juan B.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/46279 Copy

Description

Title

Structural Condition Assessment and Service Load Performance of Deteriorated Pretensioned Deck Beam Bridges

Author(s)

• Hawkins, Neil M.
• Fuentes, Juan B.

Issue Date

2003-05

Keyword(s)

Deck beam bridge, pretensioned beam, stiffness, cracking, strength, deterioration, corrosion, visual assessment.

Abstract

Three 30-year old deteriorated pretensioned deck beams were removed from an existing bridge in Illinois and re-assembled in the laboratory into a bridge sub-assemblage. Non-destructive and destructive tests and evaluations of the three beams were made in three phases: (1) Detailed visual condition assessments of the as-delivered beams; (2) The service load performance under truck type loadings of a bridge sub-assemblage constructed with the three beams; and (3) The strength and ductility of the individual beams in tests to failure. detailed descriptions are provided of the results of each study, of deterioration assessments made by two independent contractors, of coupon tests on prestressing steel and concrete samples taken from the beams, and of the chloride profiles measures through the soffit and sides of the beams. Theoretical aspects of the response of deck beam bridges, including the modeling of the response of the sub-assemblage, were studied. A method based on the beam on elastic foundation theory was developed to replicate the effects of changing the stiffness of the longitudinal joint between beams. Using that procedure bending moments in individual beams along and across the width of a bridge, inter girder shear forces, and beam deflections were calculated and deflections compared with those measures experimentally on the sub-assemblage. With that method appropriate load distribution factors for deteriorated existing deck beam bridges can be calculated. The condition of the transverse tie rod was found to be critical to service load performance. Cracking to the longitudinal joint had little effect on the stiffness of a bridge provided the transverse tie rod was snug. However, loss of snugness with time or corrosion increased substantially the potential for overloading a deteriorated beam.

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-IL-UI-285

ISSN

0197-9191

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/46279

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Illinois Department of Transportation IHR-25

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161

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