OVERLOAD TESTING OF AN EXPERIMENTAL SEGMENTAL BRIDGE

The experimental segmental bridge considered in this report was designed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and constructed at The Pennsylvania Transportation Research Facility, The Pennsylvania State University. The objectives this report were (1) to make field measurements on a full-scale bridge; (2) to study overload behavior to establish actual safety factors; (3) to make a crack survey of the bridge before and after testing; and (4) to develop an analytical procedure capable of predicting the complete post-elastic response of the bridge. Girder B of the experimental segmental bridge was tested to failure in increments of the design load by using four points of loading located over the webs to give a longitudinal bending-type failure. Measurements were taken during testing to determine deflections, rotations, change in alignment, displacements in the bearing pads, surface strains, and force in the anchor tendons and diagonal tendons. Cracks were traced on the inside and outside of the girder at each increment of loading. An analysis procedure based on the finite element method was developed to predict the complete loading deformation response of girder B. The girder also was analyzed by the standard theoretical analysis of prestressed concrete structures, a simpler method. The theoretical results obtained by these two methods were compared with the experimental results. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Transportation Research Building
  University Park, PA  United States  16802

  Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

  Commonwealth and Forster Streets
  Harrisburg, PA  United States  17120

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • McClure, R M
  • West, H H
  • Abdel-Halim, M
• Publication Date: 1982-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 226 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridges; Cracking; Deflection; Dislocation (Geology); Failure; Girders; Load tests; Oversize loads; Prestressed concrete; Rotation; Safety factors; Segmental construction; Strain (Mechanics); Structural design; Tendons
• Uncontrolled Terms: Experimental design; Overloads
• Old TRIS Terms: Bearing pads; Strains
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00372480
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/PA 82-011 Intrm Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: Res Project 75-3
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1983 12:00AM