AN ULTIMATE LOAD TEST TO STUDY BRACING EFFECTS OF BRIDGE DECKS. INTERIM REPORT

The objective of this research project was to study the possible bracing effect of a bridge deck on the lateral instability of the stringers. The capacity of bridges is frequently underrated due to conservative assumptions regarding unknown conditions. Traditionally, the stringers have been taken to be laterally unsupported along the span, thus leading to conservative estimates of the bridge capacity. A full-size laboratory test was conducted on a 24-foot-span multi-girder bridge comprising five steel stringers supporting a wood deck, to demonstrate the bracing effect of the deck. It was seen that the bridge failed by lateral buckling of the bridge beams. The test bridge capacity was twice the unbraced capacity (assuming no bracing from the deck).

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research study title: Bracing Effects of Bridge Decks.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Center for Transportation Research, 3208 Red River Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78705

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Vegesna, S
  • Yura, J A
• Publication Date: 1992-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 70 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Breaking loads; Bridge decks; Bridges; Buckling; Failure analysis; Girder bridges; Highway capacity; Laboratory tests; Load tests; Stringers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge capacity; Full scale; Lateral stability
• Old TRIS Terms: Bracing effect; Multi-girder bridges
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00626971
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-92+1239-2, Res Rept 1239-2, CTR 3-5-90/1-1239-2
• Contract Numbers: Study 3-5-90/1-1239
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 1 1996 12:00AM