TESTS OF A U-BEAM BRIDGE DECK

Tests are described of a quarter-scale concrete simply supported bridge deck composed of u-section pretensioned beams and in situ top slab. The bridge behaved linearly at design and up to one third overload. No serious deterioration of load distribution occurred after equivalent full BH loading was repeated 2000 times at midspan in both central and eccentric positions with respect to the longitudinal center line. Two-dimensional analysis using plate theory was found to be adequate in predicting longitudinal beam moments. The finite strip method was found to be efficient in analyzing both transverse and longitudinal stresses. An ultimate load test was carried out and the cracking the collapse load factors were satisfactory. /AUTHOR/