REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE CONTRACTION OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE BRIDGES

The general nature of the deterioration of prestressed concrete bridges through contraction in Nebraska is discussed and clearly illustrated through the use of photographs taken from a previous field study involving 82 bridges. The test program, formulated to determine the actual nature and cause of the deterioration process, involved continued study of 90 existing bridges, two new instrumented field structures in a natural environment, and a new full-scale model structure in a partially controlled environment. The new structures were heavily instrumented with mechanical and electrical types of strain measurement devices, thermometer and humidity wells, and other deformation references. The devices were pre-embedded using tape-in-place techniques to avoid damage to the steel forms for the girders. This technique gave quick access to ready-to-read installation points after girder forms were stripped. Readings were taken over a 4-year period. The computer was used to store and analyze the data. A high-speed plotter was used to plot the curves. An analysis is presented and remedial recommendations are outlined.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with DOT, Federal Highway Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Nebraska Department of Roads

  Bridge Design Division, P.O. Box 94759
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68509-4759

  University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  Department of Engineering Mechanics
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68588-0531
• Authors:
  • Holmes, J R
  • Schmid, G W
  • Downey, G L
  • Ekstrom, R E
• Publication Date: 1977-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 389 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Computers; Concrete bridges; Contraction; Deterioration; Girders; Humidity; Instrumentation; Prestressed concrete; Scale models; Strain measurement; Thermometers
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158103
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-NE-DOR-R-77-1 Final Rpt., FCP 40S1072
• Contract Numbers: HPR Study No. 66-6
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM