Adjacent Precast Concrete Box Beam Bridges: Connection Details

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

NCHRP SYNTHESIS 393

Adjacent Precast Concrete Box Beam Bridges:
Connection Details

A Synthesis of Highway Practice

CONSULTANT
HENRY G. RUSSELL
Henry G. Russell, Inc.
Glenview, Illinois

S UBJECT A REAS
Bridges, Other Structures, Hydraulics and Hydrology, and Maintenance

Research Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
in Cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD

WASHINGTON, D.C.
2009
www.TRB.org

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Adjacent Precast Concrete Box Beam Bridges: Connection Details

CONTENTS

1 SUMMARY

3 Chapter ONE  INTRODUCTION

Background, 3
History, 4
Scope, 4

6 Chapter TWO  STRUCTURAL DESIGN AND DETAILS

Span Lengths, 6
Skew Angles, 6
Beam Cross Sections, 6
Composite Versus Noncomposite Designs, 6
Keyway Configurations, 7
Transverse Tie Details, 8
Design Criteria for Connections, 10
Exterior Beam Details, 12

13 Chapter THREE  SPECIFICATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES

AASHTO Standard Specifications, 13
AASHTO LRFD Specifications, 13
Bearing Types, 14
Construction Sequence, 14
Differential Camber, 16
Keyway Preparation, 16
Grouting Materials and Practices, 16

17 Chapter Four  LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIRS

Types of Distress, 17
States Reporting Little or No Observed Distress, 17
Other Observations, 18
Maintenance Procedures, 20
Repair Procedures, 20
Factors Affecting Long-Term Performance, 20

23 Chapter FIVE  INSPECTION PRACTICES

Visual Inspection, 23
Identification of Corrosion, 23
Other Practices, 23

25 Chapter SIX  RESEARCH

Materials Research, 25
Structural Research, 25

27 Chapter SEVEN  CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

Conclusions, 27
Suggestions for Future Research, 28

29 REFERENCES

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Adjacent Precast Concrete Box Beam Bridges: Connection Details

31 APPENDIX A SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

43 APPENDIX B SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

67 APPENDIX C BEAM AND CONNECTION DETAILS

74 APPENDIX D RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.