Load Capacity of Concrete Bridge Decks

Abstract

The behavior of two reduced-scale concrete bridge decks subjected to simulated wheel loads was evaluated in a series of tests. One slab was reinforced in accordance with AASHTO requirements; the other had three areas with varying amounts of isotropic reinforcement. Results show that with either reinforcement pattern, service load bending moments are from 40 to 65 percent of those predicted by flexural theory. Failures were by punching shear rather than flexure and occurred at loads at least six times larger than design.