IRC:SP:66-2005

GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN

OF
CONTINUOUS BRIDGES

INDIAN ROADS CONGRESS

2005

Digitized by tine Internet Arcliive

in

2014

https ://arcli ve org/detai Is/govlawi rcy 2005sp66

i

IRC:SP: 66-2005

GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN

OF
CONTINUOUS BRIDGES

Published by

THE INDIAN ROADS CONGRESS

Jamnagar House,
Shahjahan Road,
New Delhi- 11 00 11
Price

Price Rs. 160/(Plus Packing

(Plus

& Postage

^^

^^^age)

IRC:SP:66-2005

First

Published

Reprinted

2005

July,

August, 2008

(The Rights of Publication and Translation are reserved)

(The

official

in

its

amendments

to this

document would be published by the IRC

periodical, 'Indian Highways',

effective

which

shall

be considered as

and as part of the code/guidelines/manual,

Date specified therein)

Printed at Options Printofast, Delhi- 11 0092

(500 copies)

etc.

from the

IRC:SP:66-2005

CONTENTS
Page
Personnel of the Bridges Specifications and Standards Committee

(i)&(ii)

1.

Introduction

2.

Scope

3.

Definitions

4.

Impact Factor

5.

Continuous Bridges

6.

Bridges

7.

References

made Continuous Through Deck Slab

.2
5

IRC:SP:66-2005

PERSONNEL OF THE BRIDGES SPECIFICATIONS AND

STANDARDS COMMITTEE
(As on 20-12-2004)
1.

2.

Addl. Director General, Ministry of Shipping,

V.K. Sinha

Chief Engineer, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and

3.

Road Transport

Velayutham
( Convenor)

V.

&

Co-Convenor)

Chief Engineer (B)

Highways,

Highway,

S&R

New

New

Delhi

Delhi

Ministry of Shipping,

Road Transport & Highways, New Delhi

(Member-Secretary)
(A.N. Dhodapkar)

Members
4.

K.N. Agrawal

5.

S.

6.

C.R. Ahmchandani

Ahmed

C-33, Chandra Nagar, Ghaziabad-201 Oil

PWD, Shillong
STUP Consultants

Secretary to the Govt, of Meghalaya

Chairman

&

Managing

Director,

Ltd.,

Mumbai
7.

A.K. Banerjee

B-210, (SF), Chitranjan Park,

New Delhi

8.

Ashok Basa

Director (Tech.) B. Engineers

& Builders Ltd., Bhubaneswar

9.

P.C. Bhasin

ADG (B), MOST (Retd.) 324, Mandakini Enclave, New Delhi

10.

S.S.

Chakraborty

Managing

New

Director, Consulting Engg. Services

(I)

Pvt. Ltd.,

Delhi

11.

K.K. Gupta

House No. 1149, Sector

12.

A.R. Jambekar

Chief Engineer

&

Faridabad

19,

General Manager (Tech.)

CIDCO, NAVl

Mumbai
13.

S.K. Jain

Director

& Head, Civil Engg. Department, Bureau of Indian

Standards,
14.

S.K. Kaushik

Delhi

Chairman, Estate
IIT,

Kand

New

&

Works

&

Coordinator

(TIFAC-CORE)

Roorkee

Consultant, Bhopal

15.

C.V.

16.

Ninan Koshi

17.

Prafulla

18.

RY. Manjure

Director, Freyssinet Prestressed Concrete Co. Ltd.,

19.

N.V. Merani

Principal Secy., Maharashtra

20.

M.K. Mukherjee

40/182, Chitranjan Park,

21.

A.D. Narain

Director General (Road Dev.)

Kumar

DG

(RD) & Addl.

Green, Gurgaon

DG (RD) &

AS,

Secy.,

MORT&H

S.K. Puri

(Retd.),

H-54, Residency

(Retd.) D-86, Sector-56,

Noida

Mumbai

PWD (Retd.), Mumbai

New Delhi

(Retd.) B-186, Sector-26,

22.

MOST

&

Addl. Secretary,

MOST

NOIDA

Chief Engineer, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and

Highways
23.

N. Rajagopalan

Chief Technical Advisor, L&T-Ramboll Consulting Engg. Ltd.,

Chennai
24.

M.V.B. Rao

A- 181,

Sarita Vihar,

(i)

New Delhi

IRC:SP:66-2005

Subba Rao

Chairman, Construma Consultancy (P)

Mumbai

25.

Dr. T.N.

26.

S.A. Reddi

Dy. Managing Director,

27.

Director

Highway Research

28.

G. Sharan

Member (T), National Highways Authority of India, New Delhi

29

N.K. Sinha

DG

(RD)

&

SS,

Chitranjan Park,

M.G. Tamhankar

Dr.

31

Mahesh Tandon

Managing

RB. Vijay

A-39/B,

Chief Engineer (NH)

(Shri S.K.

32.
33.

Planning

Chennai

MORT&H

(Retd.) G-1365,

Director,

Tandon Consultants

Floor,

Mumbai

(P) Ltd.,

New Delhi

DDA Flats, Munirka, New Delhi

De)

M.P PWD, Bhopal

& Budget

34.

Addl. Director General

HQ DGBR,

35.

Chief Engineer (NH)

U.P PWD, Lucknow

36.

Chief Engineer (NH)

Chepauk, Chennai

37.

R. Subramanian

Engineer-in-Chief,

38.

Rep. of

RDSO

PWD, New

Delhi

(B&S) Bidges

Members

Momin), Secretary

Maharashtra

39.

President,

40.

Director General

(Indu Prakash), Ministry of Shipping,

(Road Development)

Highways,

Secretary,

IRC

(S.S.

& Structures

RDSO, Lucknow

Ex-Ojficio

IRC

Seema Sadak Bhavan, New Delhi

(R.K. Gupta) Executive Director

Directt.,

41.

Ground

Delhi

BH-1/44, Kendriya Vihar Kharghar, Navi

30.
.

Gammon India Ltd., Mumbai

Station,

New

Ltd.,

New

(R),

PWD, Mumbai

Road Transport &

Delhi

(R.S. Sharma), Indian

Roads Congress,

Sector-6, R.K. Puram,

New

Kama

Koti Marg,

Delhi

Corresponding Members

PWD (Retd.), Panchkula

1.

M.K. Agarwal

Engineer-in-Chief, Haryana

2.

M.K. Bhagwagar

Executive Director, Engg. Consultant Pvt. Ltd.,

3.

A. Chakraborti

Addl. Director General (TD),

4.

Dr. V.K. Raina

B- 13, Sector- 14, Noida

(ii)

CPWD, New

New

Delhi

Delhi

IRC:SP:66-2005

GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN OF CONTINUOUS BRIDGES

INTRODUCTION

1.

At

1.2.

its first

Committee

The Reinforced, Prestressed and Composite

1.1.

meeting on 29* April, 2003, the

felt that in

construction

the light of the massive

programme

executionin the highway sector,

Congress was reconstituted

to bring out

in

2003 with the

was under
was necessary

that

Concrete Committee (B-6) of the Indian Roads

it

guideUnes on certain topics which were

not adequately covered in the existing

following personnel:

IRC Codes

and Standards. The design and construction of

continuous bridges was one of the topics selected.

NinanKoshi
Addl.
T.

Viswanathan

was decided

Convenor
Co-Convenor

It

...
...

Member-Secretary

the guidelines

...

DGBR

that while highlighting the special

design and detailing requirements in each case,

would be generally in Line with IRC: 1

and IRC:21 with additional inputs from BS:5400,

EURO

Members
Alok Bhowmick
A.N. Dhodapkar
Vinay Gupta

wherever

of the guidelines was

meetings and finalized in

its

its

several

meeting held on

3"^

September, 2004. The draft document was

approved by Bridges Specifications and Standards
Committee in its meeting held on 20* December,

S.D. Limaye
M.K. Mukerjee
Dr. A.K. Mulhck

2004. The document was considered by IRC

Council in its 173"^ meeting held on 8* January,

Rajagopalam

2005

G.R Saha
R.S. Sharma
Dr.

in Bangalore

modifications.

and approved subject to certain

The required modifications were

accordingly carried out by the Convenor, B-6

N.K. Sinha

Committee before sending the doucument

K.B. Thandavan

S&R,

for

pubUcation.

MOSRT&H

Ex-Ojficio

2.

Members

IRC
Momin)

President,

(RD)

initial draft

discussed by the B-6 Committee at

Jose Kurian

DG

codes,

prepared by Shri Alok Bhowmick. The draft was

S.G. Joglekar

(S.S.

The

1.3.

G.R. Haridas

C.E. (B)

AASHTO

necessary.

A.K. Banerjee

Dr. N.

and

SCOPE
The

guidelines cover the analysis and design

requirements for the following types of concrete

MOSRT&H

bridges

(Indu Prakash)
Secretary,
(R.S.

IRC

a) Continuous Bridges

Sharma)

b) Bridges

made continuous through deck

slabs.

Corresponding Members

Ashok Basa
C.V. Kand

The guidelines

are applicable for the design

of continuous type of bridges in reinforced concrete

IRC:SP:66-2005
or in prestressed concrete or precast girder
bridges
loads

made

&

fully continuous for

live load

diaphragm

at

by providing

account

all

aspects of response of the structure to

loads and imposed deformations.

superimposed

in-situ concrete

support or bridges with tied deck

5.1.2.

The

effects of creep

and shrinkage of

slabs with continuity provided using dowel bars

concrete, temperature difference and differential

debonded from girder

settlements need not be considered while checking

at

support.

It

shall

be read

in conjunction with the existing provisions in the

relevant

the safety against ultimate stage failure*"

5.1.3.

DEFINITIONS

3.

IRC Codes.
Secondary effects due

to hyperstatic

reactions of prestress shall be taken into account

while analyzing the structure. For ultimate stage

3.1.

Continuous Bridges

checks, the load factor for prestress (including the

hyperstatic effects) shall be taken as 1.0

Continuous bridge

is

a bridge with the

superstructure longitudinally continuous over

methods of achieving the continuity in

Superstructure. Fig.l shows some of such
several

methods.

,.

Due account

shall

be taken of the change

in nature of the structural

system and in material

5.1.4.

intermediate supports on bearings. There are

properties that occur during the construction

sequence of a continuous bridge. The behaviour

at

any stage of the construction sequence

shall

be

analyzed, duly taking into account the effect of

3.2.

Bridges

made Continuous through

creep redistribution.

Deck Slab
5.1.5.

These are bridges

are simply supported,
cast-in-situ

deck

built using girders,

which

critical section for

shear shall be as

follows

and made continuous through

slab.
(i)

When

the reaction in the direction of the

applied shear introduces compression into the

IMPACT FACTOR

4.

The

end region of the member, sections located

a distance less than

For continuous bridges, the

live load

impact

support

factor shall be calculated in accordance with

may be

'd'

at

from the face of the

designed for the same shear

as that

computed

When

the reaction in the direction of the

at

distance

'd'.

Clause 211 of IRC:6-2000, wherein the span length

to

be considered shall be as under

(ii)

applied shear introduces tension into the end

(i)

For bridges with spans of equal effective

region of the member, shears computed

length, the effective span length (c/c of pier).

face of the support shall be used in the design

of the
(ii)

5.2.

For bridges with only deck continuity, the

effective span

5.

member

at that section.

For bridges with spans of unequal effective

length, the least effective span length.

(iii)

at the

on which the load

is

Design

The design bending moment over an

placed.

intermediate support of a continuous deck

supported on bearings

CONTINUOUS BRIDGES

may be

equation'^'

5.1. Analysis

Mj = (M - qaV8)

or 0.9M, whichever

where,
5.1.1. Elastic

method of analysis

shall

calculated by

be used to

M, = Design bending moment.

determine the forces and deformations, taking into

is greater,

IRC:SP:66-2005

Stifch

nrcox

pour^^^^ r^"*''^^'' constructed

'^^

llUiaJJ-U-

lt3

a)

Bridge

ItJ

Balanced Cantilever Construction Technique

(Cast-in-place or Precast segmental)

c) Incremental

Launching Method
b)

Span by Span Method

pCost

in [situ

Slab and D|iophragm

-Precast Girder

-mm

d) Precast Girders

asT

Made continuous by

vsmr

in situ

slab

& Diaphragm

(ForSIDL&LL)
Fig.

Methods of Achieving

continuity in Bridge

Deck

IRC:SP:66-2005

= Analysed Bending moment at centerline of

intermediate support.

= Reaction

= Width of Bearing

= R/a

(Refer Fig.

Fig. 2.

5.3.

Dimensioning

&

Detailing

Bearing Layout

&

a)

layout in a continuous structure

2).

The layout of cover

is

for straight continuous

curved continuous structures

in Figs. 3,4

an important

Fig.

& 5 respectively.

The arrangement shown

which shall be estabhshed during the initial

in the Fig. 3,

4 and 5

are only indicative and any other layout

design process itself. The layout of the bearings

shall

in the direction of span

and skewed continuous structures are shwon

Movements: The

selection of the bearing type and the bearing

task,

intermediate support

Design Bending Moment over an Intermediate Support

girders,

5.3.1.

at the

arrangement of bearings can also be adopted.

correspond to the structural analysis of the

Methods of

analysis, shall take into account the

whole structure. The expected bearing

movements and rotations shall be determined

bearing orientations to determine the bearing

taking into account the sequence of construction.

to the substructure.

In case of stage

by stage construction,

movements and corresponding

stability

5.3.2.

of the partially completed unit shall be ensured

by

suitable

means, which

shall

The

forces transferred

horizontal earthquake forces that are

being transferred through the fixed bearing in a

be clearly spelt

continuous bridge

is

usually large. There

is

out by the designer in the working drawings.

concentration of stress

Some of the typical layout of bearings for various

back reinforcement may be necessary

forms of continuous structures are as shown in

junction of fixed bearing with deck. Additional

Figs. 3,

4 and

reinforcement

5.

may be

at the joint and suitable

tie

at the

required to be provided

IRC:SP:66-2005
Span Length,

Span Length, L2

LI

4^

^
^^

-$

^4-

>

Free Bearing

(V)

Fixed bearing

Guided Bearing

Fig. 3. Typical Bearing Layouts for Straight

Continuous Bridges

within the influence width, in concrete adjoining

the fixed bearing,

which

the horizontal force that

shall
is

6.

be designed to resist

MADE CONTINUOUS
THROUGH DECK SLAB
BRIDGES

transferred through the

For bridges made continuous through deck

bearings. These reinforcements shall be of length

sufficient to ensure proper transfer of force.

Fig.

slab,

6 shows a typical detail of such reinforcement.

two generic type of connections normally

adopted for different situations are as described

below:

5.3.3.

When

couplers are used for extending

prestressing cables, not

Type

more than 50 per cent of

1:

Continuous separated deck slab

in

the longitudinal post tensioning tendons shall be

which the deck

coupled

over the intermediate piers, without continuing the

at

any one section

slab

is

continued monolithically

lRC:SP:66-2005

^^^^

Free Beoring
Fixed Bearing

Guided Bearing
Pin

beoring

Fig. 4. Typical Bearing

Layouts for Curved

Continuous Bridges

IRC:SP:66-2005
The length of

girders.

considered as simply supported for the design of

girders. Hence specific clauses pertaining to

the separated deck slab

between the girders shall be sufficient to provide

both short-term and long-term flexibility required
to accommodate rotation of the girders.*^* (Fig. 7a

continuous structure do not apply for these

bridges. For lateral loads however, the bridge is
be treated as continuous. The continuity slab
over pier shall be designed for the forces arising

& Fig. 7b).

to

This type of connection

is

and construction. However

moment continuity

it

out of the effect of such continuity, duly taking

into account the effect of rotation of the girders

simple in design

does not provide

subsequent to casting of the continuity

at the supports.

slab.

For

the purpose of design of continuity slab, the

is

permissible reduction in allowable stress in

reinforcement shall be considered as 80 per cent

which the deck slab

hinged over the pier using partly debonded

Type 2

Tied deck slab

doweUing

in

to

(Fig. 8).

This type of detailing

medium span

is

lengths and

applicable for short to

In case of bridges with deck continuity, the

minimising

detailing of crash barrier for the continuity slab

is

aimed

at

portion shall be done carefully.

the number of expansion joints and improving riding

shall

be

left

allow for flexing of the slab.

rotational capacity, with a sealed notch provided

in the

Gaps

in crash barrier at the ends of continuity slab to

the tied deck joint retains the

However

quality.

account for fatigue.

deck surfacing.
7.

should be noted that bridges made

continuous through deck slab do not provide

REFERENCE

It

moment continuity and thus in terms

In this publication, reference to the following

and Japan Road Association

Standards has been made. At the time of

IRC,

of structural

action for vertical loads, the bridge can be

a

BS,AASHTO

or BEARING/

||NTRMEDIATE SUPPORT
Precc3st
1-

r
-\

a)

q.

OF TREE BEARING

q_

OF FIXED BEARING

beam

Precast

-q. OF FREE BEARING

At Intermediate Support

a)

With wide gap between supports over Pier

^
Q_

beam

of

pier

OF BEARING/ END SUPPORT

Precast

-11-,|

Q.

beam

Precast

beam

OF FREE BEARING

Separated decl<
Compresible

tiller

Slob ond Precost

in

slob lengtti
between

Cost

in

situ

Slab

Beam

(6mm mimimum)
(i OF FIXED BEARING
Precast

Precast

Beam

b)

OF FREE BEARING

At End Support
r[d= ANCHORAGE LENGTH OF BAR

b)

A I INFLUENCE WIDTH

Fig. 6.

Beam

Cast in situ
Diaptiragm

REINFORCEMENT

Arrangement of Tie Back Reinforcement

Fig. 7.

at

With narrow gap between supports over Pier

Connection Type

Continuous separated

Deck Slab

Fixed Bearing

IRC:SP:66-2005

of

Precast

pier

beam

Precast

beam

1^

4'
1

Crack-induceX
filled

with

slot in surfacing
rubDr/bitunnen seal

Higti

yield

strength

dowel bor with suitable

protective coating

Detail

Fig. 8.

publication,

ttie

editions indicated

were

Connection Type 2 Tied Deck Slab

:

valid. All

&

7.1

Codes

1.

IRC:6-2000 Standard Specifications and Code

of Practice for Road Bridges, Section II-

Specifications

standards are subject to revision and the parties

to

agreements based on these guidelines are

encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying

the

Loads and Stresses (Fourth Revision)

most recent editions of Standards.

IRC:SP:66-2005

2.

IRC: 1 8-2000 Design Criteria for Prestressed

6.

Concrete Road Bridges (Post Tensioned

Japan Road Specification for Association

Highway Bridges

Concrete) (Third Revision)

7.2.
3.

IRC:2 1-2000 Standard Specifications and

Code of Practice for Road Bridges Section
III Cement Concrete (Plain and Reinforced)

BS

5400:Part

4:

&

Publications

Brain Pitchard 'Bridge Design for

Economy

be Durability-Concept for New, Strengthened

and Replacement of Bridges.

(Third Revision)
4.

Papers

Code of

Practice for 1984

Design of Concrete Bridges

2.

Gunter Ramberger 'Structural Bearings and

Expansion Joints for Bridges' SE6

5.

AASHTO

LRFD

Bridge

Design

Zurich.

Specifications: 1999 Interim

lABSE

(The official amendments to this document would be published by the IRC

in

its

periodical, 'Indian Highways'

effective

which shall be considered as

and as part of the code/guidehnes/manual, etc. from the

Date specified therein)