2 Slab bridges 1/8

BRIDGE DESIGN

SLAB BRIDGES

Politecnico di Torino
Department of structural and geotechnical engineering
“Bridge design”

2 Slab bridges 2/8

Slab bridges
1) Massive slabs with orthogonal edges
• Internal action analysis with slab theory.
• Beam theory with a safe approximation
(25%) for secondary moments if l/b≥2.

b • For concentrated loads, influence

surfaces or FEM analysis.

• Generally the shear is not critical;

l → no stirrups are necessary. Any case
stirrups should be provided with Asw,min.
sw min

Small distance between

Small spans ( l ≤ 15 m) R.C. slabs reinforcement bars to
control crack opening

Politecnico di Torino
Department of structural and geotechnical engineering
“Bridge design”
2 Slab bridges 3/8

Span
p l ≥ 15 m Slabs in P.C. • Small tendons at small distance to reduce the
diffusion region.
• Transverse prestressing is not necessary for
small widths. For widths greater than 12m may
b useful
be f l to
t introduce
i t d it in
it, i order
d tot avoidid the
th
longitudinal cracks due to concentrated loads;
~ 40 cm ~ 25 cm If transverse tendons are used, they should
be included within the core of the section.
section

2) Voided slabs with orthogonal edges

• Internal actions analysis done as for massive slabs; anisotropy effect is
disregarded. In transverse direction the stress flow is disturbed by voids, then
massive regions should be introduced in correspondence of bearings and, in
case, along the span.
• The presence of voids implies an
increment of tangential stresses, then
stirrups are necessary.
• Transverse reinforcement is realized
by a double mesh (upper and lower).

Politecnico di Torino
Department of structural and geotechnical engineering
“Bridge design”

2 Slab bridges 4/8

• Generally transverse prestressing is not used. If used, it should be concentrated

i transverse
in t massive
i regions;
i th
those regions
i should
h ld then
th be b att a smallll distance.
di t
Of course transverse massive regions should be realized in correspondence of
intermediate supports (continuous slabs or several piers).

3) Skew slabs
20D ≤ ϕ ≤ 70D
• With ϕ > 70 are dealt like slabs with orthogonal
D
b0
l edges.
• Internal action analysis
y for the evaluation of
φ
principal bending moment m1/m2 (depending by
the load case).
b x
m1
mx + m y
m1, 2 = ±
1
(m x − m y ) + 4mxy
2 2
α
2 2
2mxy y
tg 2α = m2
mx − m y
Politecnico di Torino
Department of structural and geotechnical engineering
“Bridge design”
2 Slab bridges 5/8

• The flexural design

g is limited to few regions,
g , in which m1 and m2 reach the
maxima values.
A) Maximum bending moment (>0) in inner
L/18 sen φ L/2
region of the slab.
slab
A
B) Maximum bending moment (>0) along the
B
L/12sen φ
free edge. The position along the edge
C
depends on the angle α of principal stresses.
L/12 sen φ C) Maximum bending moment (<0) due to
transverse restrain by effect of continuous
pp
support (may
( y be reduced if point
p bearing
g are
used).
m=0 C - m2 Maximum bending
g moment (<0)
( ) in the
+ m11
obtuse angle.
B +m1
L

b/L=0,8 A + m2
For instance with φ = 60° the following
+m1
di ti
directions and
d signs
i are obtained
bt i d for
f
b
bending moments and uniformly distributed
load.

Politecnico di Torino
Department of structural and geotechnical engineering
“Bridge design”

2 Slab bridges 6/8

mmax((-))
With φ = 30° we get:
mmax(-) Supported
edge m = ηql 2
Free edge
b/l = 1
Free m + max = 0.119ql 2
Free m − max = −0.069ql
q2
mmax(+) −
Supported m max = −0.155ql 2
Pay attention to
The reactions at the supports are related those bending
to the moment on the supports, with very moment!
high values in the corner of obtuse angles. +
Linear
- support
In order to avoid very high localized
pressure, the bearings should be With tensile strength
discontinuous,, at a large g relative Without tensile strength
distance or capable of significant elastic
deformations.

Politecnico di Torino
Department of structural and geotechnical engineering
“Bridge design”
2 Slab bridges 7/8

y
Practical rules:
• Linear continuous bearing suitable
for φ > 40° and b ≤ 10 m.
Rigid bearing • For large slabs provide a spherical
Rubber bearing
y
bearings

R Reinforcement
Longitudinal and transverse
ϕ ≥ 600 b0 ≥ 0.5
05 reinforcement
f generally
ll parallel
ll l to free
f
l
edges. Stirrups along the free edges.

Orthogonal mesh along the direction orthogonal to

supports, or (better) longitudinal reinforcements
ϕ < 60 0 orthogonal to supports and transverse
reinforcement with a small inclination with respect
to bearings. Along the free edge provide stirrups
and additional reinforcement parallel to edges.
Politecnico di Torino
Department of structural and geotechnical engineering
“Bridge design”

2 Slab bridges 8/8

Prestressing

Acting effect (serviceability) as equivalent load applied to the slab.

slab
Resisting effect taken into account directly in the section verification.

For the
h evaluation
l off acting effect
ff the
h influence
fl surfaces
f off slabs
l b should
h ld
be used or, alternatively, the finite difference method or the f.e.m..

Politecnico di Torino
Department of structural and geotechnical engineering
“Bridge design”