DESIGN OF BENT CAPS FOR CONCRETE BOX-GIRDER BRIDGES

Design recommendations for integral bent caps in straight, continuous, reinforced concrete box-girder bridges were developed from the results of a combined experimental and analytical investigation. The results of the investigation indicate that reductions in the amount of flexural reinforcement in the bent cap of up to 40 percent can be made without reducing safety and while maintaining adequate serviceability. Even greater reductions in the amount of reinforcement can be made for bent caps with flared columns. Most of this improved economy results from a change from the working stress method of design to the load factor method of design. Test variables included the distribution of loads on the bent cap, the effect of flaring the column in the plane of the bent, the effective flange width of the bent cap in tension and in compression, the effect of spreading the main tensile reinforcement into the adjacent superstructure, and the location of the critical design sections.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_163.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00775614
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 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. Also available from NTIS, PB-254041/7ST.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Carpenter, J E
  • Hanson, J M
  • FIORATO, A E
  • Russell, H E
  • Meinheit, D F
  • Rosenthal, I
  • Corley, W G
  • Hognestad, E
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 124 p.
• Serial:
  • NCHRP Report
  • Issue Number: 163
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0077-5614

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bents; Box girders; Columns; Concrete; Concrete bridges; Design; Design methods; Flexural strength; Girder bridges; Load transfer; Material reinforcement; Stresses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Working stress design
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete box girders
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00138581
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 4 1976 12:00AM