Approach to designing prestressed concrete bridge decks

1. Define restraints.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Consider obstruction being crossed span arrangement

Develop span arrangement with end spans 65~80% of main span length
Keep piers out of water if possible
If crossing roads, keep sufficient clearance to edge of carriageway
Judge convenient positions for abutments

e.g.:
30m

40m

35m

river

Approach to designing prestressed concrete bridge decks

2. Develop deck section.

1.

Consider user requirement

1.
Width of footpath?
2.
Width of roads?
3.
Parapets / safety barriers?
4.
Etc

2.

Span/depth usually about 20

(maximum 30, but this can work the structure hard and cause problems
during design)
5m

2.0m
span/20?

3. Next decide on section dimensions...

5m

Top slab,
Typically 200mm

2.0m
span/20?

Bottom Slab
150~200mm

30m cover
12mm dia bar

Webs
Prestressing duct

Minimum thickness = 30+12+12+?+12+12+30

= 108+ ?
= say 150mm min
may increase near pier if compression is too large

30m cover

20mm dia bar

12mm dia bar

Minimum thickness = 30+20+12+?+100+?+20+12+30
= 204+?+? Say = 250mm min (300mm probably better?)

4. Next calculate section properties...

5m

2.0m
Area
I value
Depth to N-A
Ztop
Zbottom

5. Next calculate Bending Moments and Stresses in

top/bottom fibres of deck
Use frame analysis software

Hogging over pier

Sagging in mid-span
river

Dead Load
Superimposed Dead Load
Live Load (max. & Min.)

6. Make initial assumption for secondary moments:

Secondary moments in bridges is always sagging
Make initial guess based on span length
if span of 30m secondary moment probably around 5000kNm sagging
if span of 60m secondary moment probably around 20,000 kNm sagging
This is initial estimate only for initial derivation of prestress. Once prestress arrangement
chosen, the secondary moments need to be calculated and the following cycle repeated, until
actual secondary moment = assumed secondary moment

river

Sagging
5000 Kn-m???

7. Scheme up initial tendon layout

a) estimate the number of strands/tendons required at the piers and the mid-span
points (following procedure on next slide)
b) Choose prestress tendon layout to match number of strands/tendons needed
c) Prestress layout usually dependent on construction method
i) if balanced cantilever construction then cantilever and continuity tendons
ii) If build insitu, full length then full length tendons
iii) If cast span-by-span then staged prestressing to match construction
sequence
iv) etc
30m

40m

35m

5m

Tendons in top at piers

Tendons in bottom at mid-span

8. Estimate strands/tendons at each section

a) summaries Stresses (top and bottom)
b) estimate prestress from formulae below such that prestress compression > tension
from applied loads + secondary moments
c) Prestress force, P, will be the required prestress after long-term losses (assume
prestress at 60% UTS for this exercise)

E.g Top fibre stress range:

Tension
Compression

river

Dead Load
Superimposed Dead Load
Live Load
Secondary Moments

First estimate of prestress:

stress = P/A

+/-

M/z

M = Pe

P = stress / (1/A +/- e/z )

From P estimate number of cables/strands needed

9. After estimating number of strands / tendons & tendon

layout then input prestress into frame analysis as series of
equivalent loads and derive primary and secondary moments
Recheck this against secondary moments assumed earlier.
Repeat steps 7 & 8 with new secondary moments and assess
effect on the stress combinations.
If necessary, adjust number of strands/tendons so that
prestress compression > tension from applied loads
Repeat process until final stresses OK.

For bridges with internal tendons, the number of tendons and

tendon layouts are always governed by the SLS stress check

For bridges with external tendons, the ULS moments sometime

govern the required prestress layouts and quantities. In this
case, check the ULS first and scheme up on this basis.

10. Finishing off the longitudinal design

Consider actual losses in prestress (from BS5400) - derive initial prestress required
Check this against earlier assumptions of 60%UTS after long term, and if necessary
adjust prestress layout/forces until stresses are OK

Check stress levels along deck at each critical stage in structures life and if
necessary adjust prestress layout/forces until stresses are OK

Check Ultimate Moment Capacity

Check Ultimate Shear and provide reinforcement to suit

11. Also need to consider:

Temperature stresses
Differential settlement
If complex deck arrangement :
Shear lag
Distortion and torsional warping

12. Finishing off the longitudinal design

Consider details:
Anchorage of tendons
Horizontal profile of tendons
Tendon profile at anchors
Cover to tendons / anchors
Grouting tube location

13. Do not forget the transverse design!

Also bearings?
Drainage?
Expansion joints?