TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON SKEWED AND CURVED SLAB-GIRDER BRIDGES

The Wyoming Department of Transportation has had problems with significant distress in expansion joints and bearings of skewed and curved bridges. Much of this distress can be attributed to temperature. Bridges in Wyoming undergo extreme temperature variation with common daily variations of 20 deg C (36 deg F), and seasonal variations of 80 deg C (144 deg F). Typical examples of damage include (1) expansion-bearing devices with failed bearing bars and keepers, (2) fixed bearings with bent anchorage bolts, (3) failure of expansion joints, and (4) spalling of wingwalls. The present methods for predicting the temperature deformations in skewed and curved slab-girder bridges are incomplete or inadequate. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) method does not account for the geometric differences of skew and/or curvature. The goal of this research was to address the important behavioral aspects and design tools to guide the designer in the prediction of temperature-induced deformations and forces in bridges structures. Three objectives included (1) obtaining field measurements to determine actual deformations, (2) comparing these results to analytically obtained results, and (3) developing simplified design procedures and recommendations for prediction of temperature-induced translations.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Wyoming, Laramie

  Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering
  1000 East University Avenue
  Laramie, WY  United States  82071

  Wyoming Department of Transportation

  5300 Bishop Boulevard
  Cheyenne, WY  United States  82009-3340

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Croft, R C
  • Dolan, C W
  • Puckett, J A
• Publication Date: 1994-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 215 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge bearings; Curved bridges; Deformation; Design methods; Expansion joints; Failure; Field tests; Forecasting; Skew bridges; Temperature; Thermal stresses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Field measurements
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00753807
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Wyoming Department of Transportation
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/WY-94/07-A, Final Report
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 10 1998 12:00AM