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Design of Joints in Segmental Hollow Box Girder BR
Design of Joints in Segmental Hollow Box Girder BR
Design of Joints in Segmental Hollow Box Girder BR
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1 INTRODUCTION
Segmental box girder bridges externally post-tensioned are one of the major new developments in
bridge engineering in the last years. In contrast to ‘classical’ monolithic constructions a segmental
bridge consists of „small“ precast elements stressed together by external tendons (Fig. 1). The many
advantages of this type of structure like fast and versatile construction, no disruption at ground level,
high controlled quality and cost savings have made them the preferred solution for many long elevated
highways, especially in South East Asia (see [1], [2]), and bridges.
Although many segmental bridges had been built in the last years the design of the unreinforced
joints between the segments, which is of critical importance regarding the safety of the structure, is
still under discussion (Fig.9). There is a big discrepancies between the various design models. The
known models are either too conservative and thus too uneconomic (German Specification [3]) or not
valid for high compressive stresses (AASHTO [4]). Therefore numerical calculations had been
conducted and verified by full-scale tests. The results, which will be presented in this paper, lead to a
better understanding of the behaviour of segmental constructions and a more realistic design of the
joints.
Fig. 4 shows the calculated moment-deflection curve which is typical for a single span segmental
bridge with dry joints. At the beginning of loading the whole structure is under compression due to the
high post-tension normal forces. Thus the structure behave like a monolithic one. The deflection
increases linear with the load. At a midspan moment of M ≈ 37 MNm due to live load the first joint near
midspan starts to open rapidly resulting in a great decrease of stiffness. The lever arm of the inner
forces keeps nearly constant. Thus the moment deflection curve is again nearly linear. The structure
fails due to crushing of the concrete in the top slab. Nevertheless a ductile behaviour of the segmental
bridge can be seen.
Only 3 of 13 joints are open under failure load. Thus a great part of the bridge keeps under full
compression.
0,40
q
deflection in midspan due to live loads [m]
h
0,30
point
0,20
Finite Element
experiment
Further shown in Figure 4 are the results from a full-scale test carried out in Bangkok. A good
agreement between the numerical results and the test data can be seen. This demonstrates that the
finite element model is capable to model the real behaviour of a segmental bridge.
Several load combinations corresponding to bending, shear and torsion are examined to determine
the stresses resp. the forces in the joint [6]. In a single span bridge the joints near the support are
always closed due to the small bending moment. As the behaviour of an open joint is main of interest
also a single span bridge restraint on one side with a modified tendon profile has been modelled as
insetted in Fig. 5.
Figure 5 shows the resulting shear forces in the first joint close to the support in the webs and the
slabs due to torsion with increasing load. The results from three different numerical models are
presented. The first one is a monolithic girder which behaves always linear. Further the shear forces
for a segmental bridge with smooth and keyed joints are shown.
There are no differences between the models as long as all joints are closed. When the joint starts
to open, the force in the top slab (tensile region) decreases. A great difference in the behaviour of a
bridge with plain and keyed joints can be noticed. Smooth joints can only transfer forces when they
1st FIB Kongress, Osaka, Japan,2002 Session 2 Paper E-73 3/6
are under compression whereas keyed joints can still transfer forces until a certain gap is reached.
Even bigger differences can be seen in the webs. The plain joint reach the limit condition lim Fz =
0,7σn just after the joint opens whereas the force in the keyed joint still increases.
3,0
q DA
2,0
-1,0
q y Segmental bridge
g with shear keys
-2,0 monolithic girder
y Segmental bridge with plain joint
z
z -3,0
0 2 5 10 15 20 26 30 35 39
-1,0 -2,0
-3,0
-2,0 lim F
z = 0,7σ
n
-4,0
-3,0 lim F =
z 0,7σ -5,0 Segmental bridge
n
with shear keys
-4,0 -6,0 monolithic girder
Segmental bridge with plain joint
-5,0 -7,0
0 2 5 10 15 20 26 30 35 39
The results emphazise that the shear keys have a significant influence on the behaviour of a
segmental bridge under torsion loads. Calculations with plain joints are insufficient when torsion
effects become significant.
According to the German recommendations for design of segmental bridges [3] only the frictional
forces should be considered in the design. The load bearing of the shear keys is neglected as only
epoxy joints can be used. Please note the difference between eq. (1) and (2) regarding the frictional
area Asm resp. AT. L L
3 L+H
V j = µ ⋅ σ n ⋅ AT (2) b(z) zi
H
L/2
The test specimens are first stressed normal to the joint and than loaded with a vertical force up to
failure. Fig. 8 shows the experimental and calculated load-deformation curve. The behaviour of the
joint and the ultimate load are well predicted. The highly complex concrete behaviour near the failure
load has not been modelled as this region is not relevant for the load bearing capacity of a joint.
1st FIB Kongress, Osaka, Japan,2002 Session 2 Paper E-73 5/6
250 250
shear force in kN
150 150
100 100
50 50
experiment experiment
Finite Element calc. Finite Element calc.
0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8
vertical deflections at top of the specimen in mm vertical deflections at top of the specimen in mm
Fig. 8 Test results versus numerical results for a dry and epoxy joint
hne,1
failure
bn
l
surface
where: µ = 0,65 coefficient of friction
h ne,1
bn
γF = 2,0 safety coefficient
r
σn average compressive stress across the joint
A joint = h.b
hne,2
plane
h ne,3
The failure plane Akey will have the least area of key breakage. A relatively high safety coefficient of
γF = 2,0 should be used as the failure of the joint is brittle.
For glued joints only the frictional part can be used (eq. 4). Experiments showed a relatively small
increase in strength of appr. 20% between a glued and a dry joint. Furthermore a sufficient quality of
the glue can not be guaranteed on site.
510cm
20 22.5
Detail A
240 cm
t 35
TO
15 cep
Shear Stress [MPa]
SH
co
AA s ign
de
w 50 200 75 185cm
10 Ne on
icati
ci f
Shear Keys
sp e
5 an
erm
G fck = 40 MPa
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Compressive Stress [MPa]
4 SUMMARY
A non-linear finite element model of a single span segmental bridge is presented. The results show
that the behaviour is dominated by the dry joints. The indentation of the joint is of great significance
when torsion effects have to be considered. Based on experimental and numerical studies a new
concept for the design of dry and glued joints is proposed.
REFERENCES
[1] Brockmann, Ch., Shafer, G.: Design and Construction of the Bang Na-Bang Pli-Bang Pakong
Expressway. in: Stoelhorst, D. et al: Challenges for Concrete in the Next Millenium, Vol. 1,
pp. 275-280, Rotterdam 1998
[2] Rombach, G.: Bangkok Expressway - Segmentbrückenbau contra Verkehrschaos, aus: Aus
dem Massivbau und seinem Umfeld (Hilsdorf, Kobler ed.), Schriftenreihe des Institutes für
Massivbau und Baustofftechnologie, University of Karlsruhe 1995, pp. 645-656
[3] Deutscher Beton-Verein: Empfehlungen für Segmentfertigteilbrücken mit externen
Spanngliedern, 1999
[4] AASHTO 89 (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials): Guide
Specifications for Design and Construction of Segmental Concrete Bridges, 1989, Interim
Specifications 1990 –1999
[5] Takebayashi, T., Deeprasertwong, K., Leung, Y.: A Full-Scale Destructive Test of a Precast
Segmental Box Girder Bridge with Dry Joints and External Tendons, Proceedings of the
Institution of Civil Engineers, August 1994, pp. 297-315
[6] Specker, A.: Der Einfluss der Fugen auf die Querkraft- und Torsionstragfähigkeit extern
vorgespannter Segmentbrücken. Thesis, Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg, 2001
[7] Buyukozturk, O., Bakhoum, M., Beattie, S.: Shear Behaviour of Joints in Precast Concrete
Segmental Bridges, Journal of Structural Engineering, No. 12, December 1990, pp. 3380-
3401
[8] Roberts, C.L., Breen, J.E., Kreger, M.E.: Measurements Based Revisions for Segmental
Bridge Design and Construction Criteria. Research Report 1234-3F, The University of Texas
at Austin, Austin 1993