TEST-TO-FAILURE OF A JACK-ARCH BRIDGE

A 76-year-old jack-arch bridge was tested to failure to obtain information on load capacity and the degree of composite action between the steel beams and concrete deck. This work was started because, despite the good condition of the majority of the 1,300 jack-arch bridges in New York, load-rating estimates indicated that they were inadequate to support modern highway traffic. The most likely explanation for the observed performance of these bridges is that they are resisting loads in ways not considered in design or load-rating calculations. Although these bridges have no mechanical shear-transfer devices to assure composite action, it was suspected that chemical bond and friction were sufficient to provide the observed enhancement in load capacity. The 39-ft-span test structure consisted of six 24-in.-deep I-beams spaced at 36 in. Instrumentation consisted of electrical resistance strain gauges on both flanges at midspan, end rotation measurement devices at the ends of two beams, and deflectometers at midspan. The bridge was loaded to produce a 6-ft region of constant moment at the center of the span. Loads were applied through hydraulic jacks reacting against grouted anchors beneath the structure. It is concluded that full composite action may be assumed in load-rating estimates of jack-arch bridges. Although significant restraint of end rotation was also observed in both tests, a generalization of this restraint to other structures is not possible.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1986/1072/1072-006.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=TEST-TO-FAILURE+OF+A+JACK-ARCH+BRIDGE&author=D.+Beal&publication_year=1986
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309040663
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Steel Bridges and Committee on Dynamics and Field Testing of Bridges. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Beal, David B
• Publication Date: 1986

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 40-49
• Monograph Title: Structural design of bridges
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1072
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arch bridges; Bridge design; Bridges; Chemical bond; Friction; Highway capacity; Load tests; Structural design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge capacity
• Old TRIS Terms: Test-to-failure
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00474211
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309040663
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 31 1987 12:00AM