ANALYSIS OF IN-SERVICE JOINTLESS BRIDGES

Jointless bridge systems are designed currently for primary loads only: for example, live load and dead load. The only secondary load that is considered while designing a jointless bridge is the temperature load. With respect to other secondary loads, such as creep and shrinkage of the superstructural material, it is assumed that the effects of creep and shrinkage are opposite in nature and cancel out each other. Designers have different opinions on earth pressure and settlement loads. To develop a proper explanation for jointless bridge behavior, a better insight into the performance of jointless bridges is needed in terms of primary as well as secondary loads. Five in-service jointless bridges were analyzed for primary and secondary loads by the state-of-the-art methods. The analytical data generated for one bridge are synthesized and presented. The discussion includes effect of primary and secondary loads, effect of secondary loads with respect to primary loads, and effect of different systems (boundary conditions) on stresses at various locations. The results reveal that the combination of integral stub abutment and a single row of piles makes the substructure flexible, thereby reducing the stresses at superstructure and abutment joint. The weak axis orientation of piles further reduces stresses at superstructure and abutment joint. The major contributor to total stresses is the temperature load. Creep of superstructural material is helpful in reducing the stresses at some locations. Shrinkage relieves creep to some extent but not completely. Earth pressure causes negligible stresses at all locations in the bridge. Settlement stresses are considerable in multispan jointless bridges.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1995/1476/1476-018.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ANALYSIS+OF+IN-SERVICE+JOINTLESS+BRIDGES&author=H.+Thippeswamy&author=H.+GangaRao&publication_year=1995
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1476, Steel, Concrete, and Wood 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:
  • Thippeswamy, Hemanth K
  • GangaRao, Hota V S
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 162-170
• Monograph Title: Steel, concrete, and wood bridges
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1476
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Boundary value problems; Bridges; Creep; Earth pressure; Field studies; Jointless bridges; Shrinkage; Stresses; Structural analysis; Structural mechanics; Structural settlement; Temperature; Thermal stresses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Boundary conditions; Multispan bridges; Structural behavior
• Old TRIS Terms: Primary loads; Secondary loads
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00711804
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 25 1995 12:00AM