REHABILITATION OF BRIDGE SUPERSTRUCTURES VIA THE ADDITION OF GIRDER LINES. I: THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) currently maintains over 3 miles of interstate bridges near downtown Birmingham with significant levels of deck cracking and deterioration. The rehabilitation of these bridges is a matter of great concern to ALDOT because of the enormous cost and potential for disruptions of traffic. The most viable rehabilitation options at this time appear to be: 1) rehabilitate the bridge decks via overlays; 2) replace the decks; 3) add additional longitudinal girders; or 4) replace the bridge superstructures. The aim of the research reported in this paper was to investigate and evaluate the option of adding additional longitudinal girders as a bridge deck/superstructure rehabilitation strategy on the existing bridge decks, support girders, bent caps, and foundation elements. Results of the analysis indicate that adding girders is a structurally viable strategy. Particular benefits include doubling the capacity of the deck membrane arching capacity, significant reductions in the superstructure deflections, and an increase in the remaining fatigue life of the existing bridge girders by approximately a factor of 8.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10840680
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • McRae, S
  • Ramey, G E
• Publication Date: 2003-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 164-171
• Serial:
  • Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1084-0680
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/loi/ppscfx

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridge engineering; Bridge superstructures; Girders; Interstate highways; Longitudinal reinforcement; Material reinforcement; Rehabilitation; State departments of transportation; Structural design
• Identifier Terms: Alabama Department of Transportation
• Geographic Terms: Alabama
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00960691
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 2003 12:00AM