Principal Investigator(s):
Cathy French, Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
Co-Investigators:
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Arturo Schultz, Former Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
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Carol Shield, Former Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
Project summary:
The typical sequence of erecting bridge superstructures in the United States is to erect precast prestressed concrete or steel beams, place either temporary formwork or stay-in-place formwork such as steel or concrete panels, place deck reinforcement, cast deck concrete, and remove formwork if necessary. The objective of this project was to develop specifications, guidelines, and examples for the design and construction of durable cast-in-place (CIP) reinforced concrete connections for precast deck systems that emulate monolithic construction, considering issues including speed of construction, durability, fatigue, and seismic resistance. The project focused on systems that eliminate the need to place and remove formwork, thus accelerating on-site construction and improving safety. Systems to accomplish these objectives were identified during a 2004 Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems International Scanning tour, in which representatives of the Federal Highway Administration, State Departments of Transportation, the National Association of County Engineers, industry, and academia visited France, Belgium, Japan, and the Netherlands. Three of the superstructure systems specifically addressed in this project include: 1) the French Poutre-Dalle system for short span structures; 2) full-depth prefabricated concrete decks; and 3) deck joint closure details for precast prestressed concrete girder systems for long span structures.