Pullman Hotel, Auckland 28-29 October 2015 1

Load assessment of composite

bridges in New Zealand

Dr Stephen Hicks
HERA General Manager Structural Systems
 Acknowledgements
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• NZTA for their financial support (TAR 14/07)

• Following individuals:
• Steering Group:
▪ Nigel Lloyd (NZTA), Kenyon Graham (SMEC), Charles Clifton
(University of Auckland)

• Project partner: Opus International Consultants

▪ Raed El Sarraf, Dejan Novakov, Jeremy Waldin, Chloe McKenzie
 Introduction
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• Since the early 1920’s steel-concrete composite bridges

have been used on New Zealand’s State Highway Network
• Unfortunately, many shear connector types that have
been utilized are not supported by current design rules
within the standards referenced in the Transport
Agency’s Bridge manual
• Present paper presents interim results from a 2-year
research programme that is developing design rules for
the load assessment of existing composite road bridges
 Distribution of composite bridges in each NZTA region (269)
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 Canterbury and West Coast Case Study Information (MoW
data)
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 Survey of shear connector types
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South Island: 60 composite bridges North Island: 50 composite bridges

located in Canterbury and the West located in Gisborne and Hawke’s
Coast (Region 11 and 12) Bay (Region 5 and 6)
 Most utilized shear connector types
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Welded channel shear Welded V-angle shear

connectors connectors
 Historical material strengths given in current NZ MoW
publications
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Structural steel Estimated compressive concrete

strengths based on specifications at the
time of construction
Construction Yield strength Normal design Allowable
date fy stress* [MPa] overstress† Normal Allowable
Specified
[MPa] design overstress*
[MPa] Construction date strength fc
stress*
[MPa] [MPa]
Prior to 1935 206.8 fs=110.3 144.8 [MPa]
(30,000 psi) (16,000 psi) (21,000 psi) Prior to 1932 14.0 4.1 6.2
fv= 75.8 100.0 1933-1940 17.0 5.5 7.6
(11,000 psi) (14,500 psi) 1941-1970 21.0 6.9 9.0
1936 to 1940 206.8 fs= 124.1 165.5
1971 and later 25.0 - -
(30,000 psi) (18,000 psi) (24,000 psi)
fv= 86.2 113.8
(12,500 psi) (16,500 psi)
1941 to 1970 227.5 fs= 137.9 186.2
(33,000 psi) (20,000 psi) (27,000 psi)
fv= 93.1 124.1
(13,500 psi) (18,000 psi)
1970 to 1980‡ 250, 275, 340, - -
355
 Historical structural steel mechanical properties from current
NZTA project
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Yield stress fy Tensile strength fu

Year Standard Thickness
N/mm2 N/mm2 N/mm2
mm min min max
1906 BS15 386.12 441.28
1912 - 386.12 455.07
1930 BS15 386.12 455.07
1936 BS15 - 386.12 455.07
1941 CF(15)7376 - 386.12 455.07
≤19 247.04 386.12 455.07
1948-1961 BS15 38 231.6 386.12 455.07
>38 227.74 386.12 455.07
1934-1942 BS548 ≤31.75 355.12 510.23 592.97
Bridge 44.45 339.68 510.23 592.97
57.15 324.24 510.23 592.97
w/d 1965 69.85 308.8 510.23 592.97
>69.85 293.36 510.23 592.97
1941 BS968 Mechanical properties the same as BS548
1941 Bridge Same as BS548
1943 ≤19.05 324.24 482.65 565.39
>19.05 293.36 455.07 537.81
BS968 ≤15.88 355.12 441.28 537.81
1962 31.75 347.4 441.28 537.81
50.80 339.68 441.28 537.81
 Channel shear connector design models
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• No rules given in Eurocodes, although a popular form of shear

connector in the UK and Germany (in the latter case, connector type
used extensively between 1950 and 1960)
• New Zealand and North American design models based on work by
Viest et al.
• CAN/CSA-S16-09 and P
NZS
Rk = 3404.1 (
n t f + 0.5t w b f c )

Where n = 36.5 in NZS 3404 and n = 45 in CAN/CSA-S16-09, tf is the flange thickness

(mm), tw is the web thickness (mm) and b is the length of the channel (mm)
• ANSI/AISC 360-10 modifies original Viest et al. equation to include secant modulus of
concrete, Ecm
Rk (
P = 0.3 t + 0.5t b f E
f w ) c cm
 Performance of CAN/CSA-S16-09 cf. push tests (n = 114)
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bi ranges from 2.2 to 0.6 and V = 26.2% →  = 0.59 cf. AS 5100.6 value of 0.85
 Slip capacity of channel shear connectors
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0.50
0.45
0.40
0.35
0.30
h / tw / b

0.25
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Slip (mm)
 Design methods for composite beams in bending
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MRd i 0.85fcd Nc,f

Mpl,Rd
ii
C iii Npl,a
1.0 B Mpl,Rd

fyd
(i) PNA in slab
A F (b) Point C
E
Mpl,a,Rd Mel,Rd,p 0.85fcd
Mpl,Rd Mpl,Rd Nc =  Nc,f
fyd
ii
D Mel,Rd,u iii
Mpl,Rd Na MRd
Ma,Ed
Mpl,Rd fyd Ma

Nc (iii) PNA in web

=
Nc,f (c) Point B

0 Nc,el,u Nc,el,p min 1.0 i  0.85fcd N

c,el
Nc,f Nc,f
iv
(a) Na Mel,Rd

Ma
 fyd
(iv) ENA in steel beam

(d) Point E or F
 Conclusions
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• Survey of 124 existing composite bridges (representing

approx. 50% of total composite bridges in NZ’s State
Highway Network), shows that channel shear connectors
are most widely used.
• Unfortunately, channel shear connectors not supported by
many international bridge assessment guides, including
Eurocode 4.
• As well as identifying different shear connector types,
present research has reviewed existing specifications and
design standards to identify the expected material strengths
for use in suitable design model
 Conclusions, concluded
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• From a review of existing design models, considerable

variability in the predictions given by CAN/CSA-S16-09, NZS
3404.1 and ANSI/AISC 360-10 cf. push test data
• Next stage of research will develop more reliable design
models for channel shear connectors.
• Measured slip capacity of channel shear connectors
suggest that, in certain circumstances (fatigue is not
critical), rigid plastic design principles could be applied to
existing composite bridges.
• Results from project to be incorporated within NZTA Bridge
manual or standalone design guide.
 International Association for Bridge and Structural
Engineering (IABSE)
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• IABSE founded in 1929 to reconnect engineers who had lost contact

through the isolation of WWI.
• Benefits of becoming a member
• Worldwide professional network for structural engineers and leaders of the profession.
• Structural Engineering International (SEI), Journal of IABSE (print and electronic).
• SEI Online: free access to all issues, starting from 1991.
• IABSE Conferences worldwide at reduced fee.
• IABSE E-Learning.
• Free e-books occasionally published by IABSE, e.g. Structural Engineering Documents (SED).
• IABSE Publications at reduced rates.
• Opportunity to join Technical Groups and Committees.

• New Zealand Group of IABSE recently established

• Where can I get further information?
www.iabse.org
stephen.hicks@hera.org.nz
 An important note for the reader
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