The Effects of Construction Phasing and Creep on Buried Bridges

Buried bridges are an economical alternative to traditional beam-type bridges used for highways and other applications with spans up to and exceeding 100 ft. Typical analysis and design methods employ two-dimensional (2D) soil-structure interaction (SSI) finite element analysis (FEA) at critical cross-sections cut parallel to the span to capture the contribution of structural backfill to the overall system. However, three-dimensional (3D) analysis is required to account for the effect of loading on bridge segments when phased construction along the length is employed. The Chenango Street Bridge is a 60 ft span three-sided precast concrete arch buried bridge constructed in three phases, placed several months apart, in 2013 and 2014. For each phase, a length of the bridge was placed and backfilled, and a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall was constructed parallel to the span at the phase end. In 2018, a dip in the roadway above the crown was discovered and cracks were observed on the underside of the precast concrete arch. In 2019, a LiDAR scan revealed downward deflections of 6 to 11 in. at the crown relative to the foundations. The physical and analytical investigation described herein details how these deflections can be attributed to 1) increased concrete stresses due to construction phasing, and 2) concrete mix and placement procedures that produced particular susceptibilities to creep.

• Record URL:
  • https://annualmeeting.mytrb.org/OnlineProgram/Details/20931
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AKB70 Standing Committee on Culverts, Buried Bridges and Soil Structure Interaction.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Bowers, Jeremy
  • Beaver, Jesse
  • Barendse, Matthew
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 103rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2024-1-7 to 2024-1-11
• Date: 2024

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References;

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge design; Bridge substructures; Creep; Structural health monitoring
• Geographic Terms: Binghamton (New York)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01908545
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TRBAM-24-04911
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 20 2024 9:16AM