Performance and Design of Bridge Approach Panels in Wisconsin

Within the recent past, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (Wisconsin DOT) changed the bridge approach slab design from a system using only one expansion joint to a system using three expansion joints. This change was due primarily to the need to accommodate differential expansion and contraction between the approach pavement and the bridge. Since implementing the new design detail, the Wisconsin DOT has become aware of the detail's difficulty of constructability. As such, a more easily constructed, new standard design with one expansion joint and a sleeper slab was created and has been used more recently. When compared, the designs vary in many ways, and accordingly the question of suitability arises: are three expansion joints needed or is one enough to provide the stress relief and desired performance? The project objectives were to: (1) Review and analyze current approach slab performance; (2) Review and analyze other States' practices with respect to approach slabs; (3) Determine what other currently adopted approach slab designs may be applicable to Wisconsin; (4) Determine if there is a problem with current approach slab performance and, if so, will new designs improve performance; (5) Determine if three expansion joints are needed to provide thermal expansion/contraction relief or if one joint will be sufficient; and (6) Improve the constructability and performance of approach slabs. As a result of this work, several conclusions and recommendations were made. Generally, these could be grouped into two categories: approach details and backfill/approach support.

• Record URL:
  • http://wisconsindot.gov/documents2/research/WisDOT-WHRP-project-0092-14-04-final-report.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Bridge Engineering Center
  2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, Iowa  United States  50010-8664

  University of Wisconsin, Madison

  Wisconsin Highway Research Program, 1415 Engineering Drive
  Madison, WI  United States  53706

  Wisconsin Department of Transportation

  Division of Business Management, Research and Library Unit
  4802 Sheboygan Avenue
  Madison, WI  United States  53707

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Phares, Brent
  • Dahlberg, Justin
• Publication Date: 2015-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 303p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge approaches; Bridge construction; Bridge decks; Bridge design; Expansion joints; Recommendations; State of the practice
• Geographic Terms: Wisconsin
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01626799
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: 0092-14-04
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 27 2017 9:26AM