DESIGN PHILOSOPHY OF U-TROUGH RCC MINOR BRIDGE

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE STRUCTURE

GEOMETRY

For the construction of Bridges, U-Type concrete RCC box structure has been proposed.
Analysis of RCC box has been done considering fill heights as per the actual situation.
Earth pressure at Rest Condition is coming critical. Design has been done considering worst
combination of all the cases mentioned below.

2. DESIGN STANDARDS

CODES & STANDARDS

The design of various components of the bridge, in general are based on provisions of
IRC/IS Codes. Wherever IRC code is silent, reference is made to other Indian/International
Codes and Standards. The list of IRC Code given below will serve as a guide for the design
of structures.

IRC: 5 –2015 Standard Specifications and Code of Practice for Road Bridges, Section I –
General Features of Design.

IRC: 6 – 2014 Standard Specifications and Code of Practice for Road Bridges, Section-II –
Loads and Stresses (Revised Edition).

IRC: 78 – 2014 Standard Specifications and Code of Practice for Road Bridges, Section-VII –
Foundations and Substructures (Revised Edition).

IRC: SP 13 –2004 Guidelines for the design of small Bridges & Culverts.

IRC: 112 – 2011 Code of Practice for Concrete Road Bridges.

3. LOADING

3.1 Dead Load (DL)

RCC Unit weight for Dead Loads calculation has been considered 25kN/m3 as per IRC: 6 –
2014 (Standard Specifications and Code of Practice for Road Bridges, Section-II – Loads
and Stresses).

3.2 Super Imposed Dead Load (SIDL)

Unit weight for superimposed dead load shall be in conformity with IRC: 6 – 2014
(Standard Specifications and Code of Practice for Road Bridges, Section-II – Loads and
Stresses). For wearing coat above Box Culvert, unit weight has been considered 22kN/m3.
3.3 Load due to Earth Pressure

Earth Pressure at rest has been considered to be acting on the vertical walls of the Box
Culvert. The Co-efficient of Earth pressure at rest is taken as Ko = 1-sinφ where φ is the
angle of internal friction of backfill material. Minimum fluid pressure of 4.8kN / cum has
been considered as per IRC: 6 – 2014.

3.4 Carriageway Live Load (LL)

Live Load conforming to IRC: 6 – 2014 have been considered in the analysis of the Box
Culvert structure and the Class of loading whichever produces the severe effect has been
considered in the design. Class AA Track, Class A and 70R Wheel load has been considered
in the design. Dispersion of live has been calculated as per IRC: 112-2011 (Annexure – B3).

3.5 Live Load Surcharge

The Box Culvert structures has been analysed considering a Live Load surcharge
equivalent to 1.20 mts. height of earth-fill as per IRC: 6 - 2014.

3.6 Braking Force

The Braking Force has been calculated for 20% of total carriageway live load at that
designed section.

4. DURABILITY & MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS

4.1 Concrete Grades and Reinforcements

Concrete:-

For precast plank and deck slab - M - 40

For Box Bridge - M - 35 (Cast-in –situ)

For Crash Barrier - M - 40 (Cast-in –situ)

For PCC Works - M - 15

Reinforcement:-

HYSD bars (Grade Fe – 500D) conforming to IS: 1786 are provided as reinforcement.

Clear Cover:-

The minimum cover to reinforcement has been determined from the recommendations of
IRC: 112 – 2011 taking into account the exposure conditions as severe as per table 14.1 of
IRC-112-2011. Following clear cover has been adopted for the various components for cast-
in-situ RCC box:
Structural components having faces in contact with Earth - 75 mm

Structural components having faces not in contact with Earth - 40 mm

4.2 Soil Properties

For the compacted soil / sand used for the back filling the density has been taken as 2.0
t/cum for dry condition as per IRC: 6– 2014. Corresponding shear parameters to be taken
are C = 0 & = 30o.

Vertical modulus of subgrade reaction for calculating spring constant has been considered .
Modulus of subgrade reaction is taken considering permissible settlement as 10 mm.
Considering this values analysis has been done for getting critical load at different
members.

4.3 Protection Works

Protection work (if required) has been provided as per relevant IRC specification.

5. STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

5.1 STAAD Model

The analysis of the Box structure has been modelled as 1m width in STAAD in various
stages and details are given below.

– The analysis of the RCC Box bridges has been modelled as a plane frame
structure of 1.0 m width in STAAD PRO. Members of the model pass through the cg of box.
Top slab of box has been discretized in eleven nodes i.e. two nodes at edges, two nodes at
haunch start, two nodes at haunch end and two nodes at d-eff and three nodes at middle of
top slab of box. Web of box has been discretized in nine nodes i.e. two nodes at haunch start,
two nodes at haunch end, two nodes at d-eff and three at middle of web wall of box. Bottom
slab of box has been discretized in eleven nodes i.e. two nodes at edges, two nodes at
haunch start, two nodes at haunch end and two nodes at d-eff and three nodes at middle of
bottom slab of box. In Stage I, two construction sequence have been considered. In first
construction stage RCC U-trough has been completed & only self -weight is considered. In
second phase of construction RCC Plank is placed over U-trough after 28 days which is
acting as Simply Supported beam. In construction stage there will be earth.

upports are provided at the base slab

of the box to simulate the support system. Soil springs stiffness has been calculated based
on sub grade modulus of the soil. Max opening height has been considered in design.

– RCC Cast-in-situ slab has been placed over RCC plank to make the whole
structure act monolithic as a single unit.
 I – Placing of SIDL and Live load. STAAD model representing Box section has
been created. SIDL load has been placed over slab. Live load as concentrated load has been
run along the length of span and effective width of individual concentrated load has been
calculated separately and the load which is effecting for 1m width has been put in the
model for analysis.

STAAD MODEL WITH NODES

5.2 Loading

has been placed in model with self-weight command in STAAD.

since parapet itself will act as beam and live load will not act in that location. Load has
been placed on top members as concentrated load.

provision
and it has been applied on vertical wall members as trapezoidal load or triangular load as
the case may be. Earth pressure at dry condition has been considered in analysis.

Loads Considered in Construction Stage:-

(a) When only U-trough is constructed, self-weight of the structure and Active Earth
Pressure is considered.
 (b) When RCC Plank is placed over U-trough, only load of simply supported plank adds
to the above loading.

Cast-in-situ slab is placed over RCC plank):-

1 Self Weight of whole structure

2 Creep

3 Shrinkage

4 Differential settlement (6mm)

(when structure is acting as a single unit ):-

1 Self Weight

2 Super Imposed Dead load on top

3 Earth Pressure at Rest ( Dry Condition )

4 Earth Pressure at Rest ( Submerged Condition )

5 Fluid Pressure

6 Live Load**

16 Live Load Surcharge (Both sides)

17 Live Load Surcharge (Left side)

18 Live Load Surcharge (Right side)

Live Load on Top slab (All Cases)

1 Live Load [ 70 R Wheeled vehicle ]

2 Live Load [ Class A ]

3 Live Load [ Class AA Track ]

4 SV Loading

** Critical LL from above mentioned individual LL cases has been obtained separately and used
for combination with other loads.

5.3 Load Combination in STAAD Model

Load combination has been done as per IRC 6 - 2014.

a. Combination for Base Pressure check :

Table 3.4 of IRC 6 – 2014 has been followed for analysis. Load combination 101 to 110 in
STAAD model.

b. Combination for Strength check :

Table 3.2 of IRC 6 – 2014 has been followed for analysis. Load combination 201 to 346 in
STAAD model.

c. Combination for Stress check :

Table 3.3 Column (2) of IRC 6 – 2014 has been followed for analysis. Load combination 401
to 694 in STAAD model.

d. Combination for Crack Width check :

Table 3.3 Column (4) of IRC 6 – 2014 has been followed for analysis. Load combination 701
to 702 in STAAD model.

e. Combination for Deflection check :

Table 3.3 Column (3) of IRC 6 – 2014 has been followed for analysis. Load combination 801
to 1094 in STAAD model.

6. STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Moment and shear forces for Top Slab, Vertical Wall and Bottom Slab are tabulated in
separate sheet for different load combination and design value was obtained. Designs have
been done considering RCC member as per IRC: 112 – 2011 by using in-house developed
Design Spread Sheet and Reinforcements have been provided accordingly.