List of Reinforced Concrete Design Standards: [Show]
The three most common types of reinforced concrete bridge decks are :
Solid Slab
Voided Slab
Beam and Slab
Solid slab bridge
decks are most useful for small, single or multi-span bridges and are
easily adaptable for high skew.
Voided slab and beam and slab bridges are used for larger, single or multi-span
bridges. In circular voided decks the ratio of [depth of void] / [depth
of slab] should be less than 0.79; and the maximum area of void should
be less than 49% of the deck sectional area.
For decks with skew less than 25° a simple unit
strip method of analysis is generally satisfactory. For skews greater
than 25° then a grillage or finite element method of analysis will
be required. Skew decks develop twisting moments in the slab which become
more significant with higher skew angles. Computer analysis will produce
values for Mx, My and Mxy where Mxy represents the twisting moment in
the slab. Due to the influence of this twisting moment, the most economical
way of reinforcing the slab would be to place the reinforcing steel
in the direction of the principal moments. However these directions
vary over the slab and two directions have to be chosen in which the
reinforcing bars should lie. Wood and Armer have developed equations
for the moment of resistance to be provided in two predetermined directions
in order to resist the applied moments Mx, My and Mxy.
Extensive tests on various steel arrangements have shown the best positions
as follows
Bridge Components | Choice of Deck