Long-Term Behavior of a Prestressed Concrete Bridge with Corrugated Steel Webs
Hamid Reza Ebrahimi Motlagh, Alireza Rahai
Abstract
Long-term performance is one of the less-studied cases of the prestressed concrete bridge with corrugated steel webs. In this study, the time-dependent behavior of a bridge of this type was investigated. To consider the effects of creep and shrinkage of concrete and relaxation of tendons, a three-dimensional finite-element analytical model of the bridge with all its components was developed. Two static loading tests were performed at two separate times after bridge completion to evaluate the bridge’s characteristics, and the model was updated with the results. Different models, includes models ACI, Eurocode, fib, and upgraded B3, were used in the analysis compared with the local measurements to predict materials’ time history behavior. In addition, prestress loss prediction of internal and external cables in the bridge spans was evaluated. The results showed a significant difference in prestressing loss in the external cables compared to internal ones. Compared to the local reading, the long-term deflection results showed that the upgraded Model B3 gives a more realistic prediction than others.