THE INELASTIC ANALYSIS OF BEAM-SLAB HIGHWAY BRIDGE SUPERSTRUCTURES

The report desribes an analysis scheme to predict the overload response of simple span beam-slab type highway bridges with reinforced concrete deck slab and reinforced or prestressed concrete I- or rectangular beams. The analysis scheme is based on completed research on reinforced and prestressed concrete beams, and reinforced concrete slabs, reported in "The Inelastic Analysis of Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Beams" by J.M. Kulicki and C.N. Kostem (Fritz Engineering Laboratory Report No. 378-B.1, Lehigh University, 1972) and "The Inelastic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Slabs" by W.S. Peterson, C.N. Kostem and J. M. Kulicki (Fritz Engineering Laboratory Report No. 378B.3, Lehigh University, 1974), respectively. For a full understanding of the contents of the reported investigation, a study of these reports is needed. The analysis scheme assumes that the superstructure can exhibit material nonlinearities while remaining geometrically linar. It is also assumed that the inelastic response of the superstructure is governed by the flexural bahavior, i.e. excluding the effects of transverse and torsional shear. The developed scheme utilizes finite element displacement method, discretizing the superstructure into layered beam and plate bending elements. The method is compared against five full scale bridge tests. In all cases a good agreement was observed from the elastic regime up to the collapse of the super structure. The presented method is intended to be employed by engineers as a tool to predict the overload response of the superstructures. Through the employment of the appropriate failure and serviceability criteria, policy decisions not investigated herein, the rating of the bridges for various overload configurations can be undertaken. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, FHWA.
• Corporate Authors:

  Lehigh University

  Fritz Engineering Laboratory
  Bethlehem, PA  United States  18015
• Authors:
  • Peterson, W S
  • Kostem, C N
• Publication Date: 1975-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 186 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bending; Bridge construction; Bridge decks; Bridge foundations; Bridges; Construction; Failure; Finite element method; Flexure; Highway bridges; Oversize loads; Prestressed concrete; Reinforced concrete; Serviceability; Shear strength; Superstructures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Overloads
• Old TRIS Terms: Finite elements
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167828
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-PA-RD-71-12-5 Intrm Rpt., FCP 45F3532
• Contract Numbers: Penn DOT Proj. 71-12
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 7 1978 12:00AM