REHABILITATION OF A CONCRETE TIED ARCH BRIDGE

This paper describes the rehabilitation of the John Mack Bridge across the Big Arkansas River in Wichita, KS, USA, built in 1929. The 243.8m long eight-span bridge has composite steel and concrete tied arches, each 30.5m long and rising above the deck at the kerb line. At the core of each arch rib is a steel arch lattice work. The arch ribs consist of four steel angles, embedded in 760mm x 1000mm deep concrete. The bridge is generally in good condition, but the concrete casings of the steel arch hangers showed extensive cracking, with cracks up to 3mm wide. The bridge was analysed as a three-dimensional structure, using a finite element model. The analysis revealed the presence of bending moments transverse to the arch hangers; when combined with the tensile loads, the bending moments significantly increased the stresses in the hanger steel. There was also a diagnostic load test, using a pre-weighted test vehicle at various positions on the bridge. The strains, induced in the concrete and steel, were measured. The bridge was found to have a structural capacity far beyond its requirements, so that the only repairs necessary were to the hangers; 35mm diameter full-height high-strength rods will be attached to all hangers.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10168664
• Corporate Authors:

  International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering

  ETH-Honggerberg, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 15
  Zurich 8093,   Switzerland  CH-8093
• Authors:
  • Pullaro, J J
• Publication Date: 1995-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 90-1
• Serial:
  • STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering
  • ISSN: 1016-8664

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Concrete; Cracking; Deflection; Deformation; Finite element method; Loads; Mathematical models; Repairing; Steel; Stresses; Test procedures
• Geographic Terms: United States
• ITRD Terms: 3455: Bridge; 4755: Concrete; 5211: Cracking; 5586: Deflection; 5595: Deformation; 6490: Finite element method; 5567: Load; 6473: Mathematical model; 3635: Repair; 4542: Steel; 5575: Stress (in material); 6288: Test method; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00712354
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Oct 24 1995 12:00AM