FIELD INVESTIGATION OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE BEAMS AND PILES IN A BRIDGE ON THE WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD

Description and analysis are presented of a field investigation of prestressed concrete beams and piles on Western Pacific Bridge No. 62.63 near Tracy, California. Two spans include one consisting of 5 rectangular prestressed concrete beams 37 ft. 7 in. long, 2 ft. 4 in. wide and 3 ft. deep, each beam having a circular void 16 in. in diameter; the second span consists of 5 prestressed concrete beams of similar construction but 24 ft. 11 in. long and 2 ft. 4 in. deep. The prestressed concrete piles are octagonal in section, 20 in. thick, and have circular voids 11 in. in diameter. The investigation seeks to determine the stresses in the beams under a complete range of train speeds and the stresses in the piles resulting both from vertical loads and from bending due to the longitudinal forces set up by braking and traction. Loading is provided by a test train pulled by two diesel locomotive units. Tests results indicate that static stresses of beam spans were less than the the calculated values, maximum stresses were less than the calculated values, and all recorded maximum total impacts were less than those calculated by AREA specifications. Regarding piles, all recorded static stresses were less than the calculated values, maximum bending stress of 83 psi was recorded under the cars. Braking forces produced an average bending stress in the piles of 27 psi and traction forces produced an average stress of 26 psi, considerably less than stresses calculated from AREA specifications.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1965-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 21-42
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 67 N
  • Issue Number: 594
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Bending; Bending stress; Bridges; Prestressed concrete; Prestressing; Static loads; Stresses; Support piles
• Old TRIS Terms: Beam span bridges; Bridge stresses
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052282
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: ER-61 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM