Testing of Segmental Concrete Girders With External Tendons

Abstract

C onstriction of Interstate 526 over the Cooper and Wando Rivers, near Charleston, South Carolina includes 8 miles (13 km) of bridges and viaducts. In the preliminary design stage of this project some innovative concepts for segmental concrete construction were proposed. Because of the large investment involved, it was imperative to evaluate the structural performance and economy of the proposed systems. The owner of the bridge, South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, recommended that tests be conducted to compare the performance of two innovative segmental construction systems with a conventional system, under