Investigation of Concrete Cracking Effect in Deck Slab of Continuous Bridges

Abstract

Analysis of the literature has shown that two main factors, which should be taking into consideration in designing of continuous bridges, are the influence of cracking on serviceability of the structures and inelastic behaviour of structural elements. Crack control is often the governing design criterion for the choice of the amount of longitudinal pre-stressing of reinforced concrete bridges as well as for the construction sequence of composite bridges. Present paper investigates cracking behaviour of reinforced concrete decks of continuous bridges over intermediate supports. It should be noted that this section behaves almost as pure tension ties. The paper presents results of complex investigation which has included experimental and numerical analyses of deformations and cracking resistance of reinforced concrete tensile members and a deck slab. Different techniques on crack controlling were analysed. Analysis was showed that the techniques worth predicting deformational behaviour of reinforced concrete members as well as assuring the cracking control in the bridge deck.