Bridge Design

Reinforced Concrete is particularly well suited for use in bridges of all kinds Because of its
durability, rigidity and economy as well as the comparative ease with which a pleasing appeara -
-nce can be achieved.
Followings are some of the most common concrete bridges,

a- Slab Bridges.
b- T-Beam Bridges
c- Precast Girder bridges
d- Composite Steel-Concrete Bridges
e- Composite Prestressed-Concrete Bridges
f- Arch Concrete Bridges
g- Post-tension Prestressed Concrete Box Girder Bridges (spans upto 300m)

For very short spans, from about (3-7 m) one-way slab bridges are economical.

Cast-in-place concrete girders (T-Beam Bridge) may be used for spans up to 25m, although
their use is less common now than before because of the advantages of Precasting for this range
of spans. For cast-in-place bridges, the monolithic concrete deck spans as a slab transversely and
also provides a broad compression flange for the main girders. Such bridges may be single span
and simply supported or continuous over two or more spans.
Precast Girder Bridges are mostly used instead of T-beam bridges since they are characterized by
fast, easy erection and low maintenance. This type is known to be economical for spans up to
(25m) .
Most highway bridges in modern countries of medium length, from 18m to about 40m, make use
of either of composite steel-concrete construction or composite Prestressed- Concrete
construction.
Arch Bridge is designed and built for the first time by the Swiss engineer Robert maillart with
span of 88.5m
Requirement for long spans led to the development of Post-tension Prestressed Concrete Box
Girder Bridges by which very long spans have been achieved, the longest presently is of 300m
Span.

3/26/2007 Page 1 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

 Arch Bridges

• Most efficient shape for

supporting gravity loading.
• Cast-in-place or Precast.
• The longest existing concrete
arch bridge: Wanxian Bridge,
China. Span = 413 m.
• The first segmental Precast
concrete arch bridge in the
U.S.: The Natchez Trace
Parkway, Franklin, Tennessee.
Dual Spans of 175m and 128
m.

Slab Bridges

• Simple, easy to construct.

• Well-suited for spans up to about 15
m.
• Cast-in-place or precast. Reinforced
or prestressed.
• Can be made continuous with
abutments and piers to mobilize the
frame action.

Curved 3 span continuous

Type
steel deck box girder
Length 1,573m
Completed 1994

3/26/2007 Page 2 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

Design Specifications:

In Most countries with no Standard Bridge Design code, it is preferred to design the highway
bridges according to requirement of the American Association of State Highways and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Specification, however there are some other Design
specifications used by other nations such as
1- BS 5400 – united kingdom
2- Ontario Highway bridge design code(OHBDC)
3- IRC ( Indian Rout Congress )
The specification contains provisions governing loads and load distribution as well as detailed
provisions relating to design and construction.
The specification prefers to use the service load method for the design of bridges,

Loads: Followings are some of most important loads applied considered in the design of
bridges.
a- Dead Load
The dead load on a superstructure is the weight of all superstructure elements such as deck,
wearing coat, railing, parapet, stiffeners and etc.
b- Live Load
Truck Loadings:
The live load of the AASHTO specification consist of standard, idealized trucks or of live
Loads which are equivalent to a series of trucks .
Two systems of loading are provided: The H –loading and the HS-loading, as shown bellow.
The H- loading represents a two-axle truck; the HS-loading represents a two-axle tractor plus
a single axel semi trailer.
As shown in the fig. the highway loadings are divided into several classes.
The number of loading indicates the gross weight in tons of the truck or tractor. The gross
weight is divided between the front and rear axles, as shown.

Selection of loadings:
The AASHTO specifications provides that bridges supporting interstate highways shall be
designed for HS20-44 loading or an alternate military loading of two axles, for other highways
which may carry heavy truck traffic the minimum live load shall be HS15-44 .
In the design of bridges supporting local highways H20-44 Loadings, one axle load of 106KN
may be used instead of the axle of 142KN.

Application of Loadings
Followings are some of more important rules for applying the selected AASHTO loading;

1- The lane loading or standard truck loading shall be assumed to occupy a width of 3 m. these
Loads shall be placed in 3.6 m wide design traffic lanes spaced across the entire bridge road
Way width in numbers and positions required to produce the maximum stress. Road way
Width from 6 to 7.3 m shall have two design lanes, each equal to one-half the roadway width.

3/26/2007 Page 3 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

2- Each 3 m lane loading or single standard truck shall be considered as a unit, and fractional
Load-lane widths or fractional tucks shall not be used.
3-In slab design the centerline of the wheel shall be assumed to be 30 cm from the face of the
curb while for beam design it is considered to be 60cm.

Standard H-Truck

3/26/2007 Page 4 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

 Standard HS-Truck

3/26/2007 Page 5 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

Impact:
Live load stresses due to truck are increased to allow for vibration and sudden application of the
Load. The increase is calculated by the formula
I = 50/ 3.28L+125< 30%
Where I is the impact factor and L is the length of bridge. The max impact factor to be used shall
be 30 percent.

Distribution of Wheel Load on Concrete Slabs

The pertinent rules for the distribution of wheel loads on concrete slabs and some additional
design requirements are as follows.

(1) Span lengths: For simple spans, the span length shall be the distance center to center of
Supports but shall not exceed clear span plus thickness of slab.
The following effective span lengths shall be used in calculating the distribution of loads and
Bending moments for slabs continuous over more than two supports:
Slabs monolithic with beam
S = clear span
Slabs supported on steel stringers:
S = distance between edges of flanges plus one-half the stringer flange width

(2) Edge distance of wheel load: in designing slabs, the centerline of the wheel load shall
be assumed to be 30 cm from the face of the curb.
(3) Bending Moment: The bending moment per meter width of slab shall be calculated as
Bellow
Case 1:- Main Reinforcement perpendicular to traffic:
The live load moment for simple spans shall be determined by the following formula:
HS20 loading:
⎛ 1.64 * S + 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ P20 = Moment, kg-m per meter width of slab, where P20 = 7.2ton
⎝ 16 ⎠
HS15 loading:
⎛ 1.64 * S + 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ P15 = Moment, kg-m per meter width of slab, where P15 = 5.34ton
⎝ 16 ⎠
For slab continuous over three or more supports a continuity factor of 0.8 should be considered.
Case 2:- Main Reinforcement parallel to traffic:
In this case the live load moment is obtained by solving the statical system of the slab in the
critical loading condition, the load per meter width of the slab is determined by distributing
the wheel load over a width of E = 1.22 + 0.06 S ≤ 2.1m , while the lane load is distributed
over a width of 2 E .

(b) Distribution Reinforcement:

Distribution reinforcement shall be in the bottom and top of all slabs transverse to the main
Reinforcement to provide for lateral distribution of the concentrated live loads, the amount is

3/26/2007 Page 6 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

 Percentage of main reinforcement given by the following formulas:

For main reinforcement parallel to traffic:

0.55
ρ = percentage of distribution reinforcement = % Maximum 50%
S
For main reinforcement perpendicular to traffic:
120
ρ= Maximum 67%
S
Area of distribution reinforcement As d = ρ × As
where S is the effective span of the slab.

Distribution of wheel loads to Stringers, Longitudinal Beams, and Floor Beams:

The following rules govern the distribution of wheel loads affecting longitudinal and transverse
concrete beams supporting concrete slabs.
1- Bending moment in stringers and longitudinal beams:
In calculating bending moment in longitudinal stringers the wheel loads are assumed to be
distributed laterally .The lateral distribution is determined as follows:
(a) Interior Stringers, supporting concrete floors shall be designed for loads determined
According to the following table:

One traffic lane, fraction of a Tow or more traffice lanes

Floor system
Concrete slab on steel I-beam
stringer and prestressed
concrete girders
Concrete slab on concrete
stringers
Concrete box girder
wheel load to each stringer
S / 2.13 (Smax = 2m)
S / 1.98 ( Smax = 1.8m)
S / 2.44 ( Smax = 3 m)
fraction of a wheel load to
each stringer
S / 1.68 ( Smax = 4.3m)
S /1.83 ( Smax = 3m)
S / 2.13 ( Smax = 4.9m)

S indicates the spacing between the stringers (Girder)

(b) The combined capacity of all beams in a span shall not be less than the total live load and
dead load in the panel.
(C) The exterior girders are reinforced as the interior girders.

⎛ Es ⎞
Following table shows the Modular ratio ⎜ n = ⎟ for different type of concrete.
⎝ Ec ⎠
Concrete Strength f ' c Modular Ratio ( n )
210 to 275 10
280 to 345 8
More than 350 6

3/26/2007 Page 7 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

Miscellaneous Details:
1- Diaphragms in deck girder bridges thin transverse beams (diaphragms) are often constructed
between the beams at the ends of bridge, diaphragms serve two main purposes:
(1) they furnish lateral support for the beams and (2) when no back wall is built they prevent
The earth fill from spilling out onto the seat. Intermediate diaphragms also should be provided
Between beams of deck-girder bridges with spans greater than 12 m. The intermediate diaph-
agrams serve the purpose of providing lateral stability for the beams, and also provide for
lateral distribution of concentrated loads which may act mainly on one or two girders, thus
ensuring that the entire bridge acts as a unit.
Diaphragms are usually placed each 6m and are 25-35 cm thick with a nominal amount of
reinforcement .

2- Bearing width:
The bearing width required for the bridge to be placed suitably depends on it’s span, bellow is
the bearing width for some of most common spans.

Span in meter 50m and

0-3 3m 6m 12m 24m 40m above
Top width of piers carrying
simply supported spans (m) -
0.50 1.00 1.20 1.60 2.0 2.20
Top width of abutments and
piers carrying continuous
spans (m) 0.30 0.40 0.750 1.0 1.30 1.70 1.90

Design of a slab Bridge

a- Data and Specifications
Design a slab bridge using the following data,
Clear span = 5m Clear width = 7.3
Live Loading = HS20 Wearing Surface = 8mm bitumen

Concrete Strength f ' c = 250 kg / cm 2 f y = 4000kg / cm 2

According to AASHTO Specification the allowable concrete stress is

f c = 0.4 f ' c = 0.4 * 250 = 100kg / cm 2

3/26/2007 Page 8 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

 fy 4000
Allowable steel stress fs = = = 2000kg / cm 2
2 2

The thickness of slab for deflection control is L/16 = 500/16 = 31.25 cm take h = 35cm
The effective span is S = clear span + thickness = 500+35=535cm, hence the dead load is:

Wt. of slab = 0.35*2.5 = 0.875 t/m2

Wt. of wearing coat = 0.08 * 2.2= 0.176 t/m2

Total D.L = q = 1.051 t/m2

2
qs 1.051 * 5.35 2
The dead load moment is Md = = = 3.76 ton − m
8 8
The load on each rear wheel is 7.1ton and the effective distribution width is
E = 1.22 + .06 S ≤ 2.1m ⇒ E = 1.22 + .06 ∗ 5.35 = 1.541m
7.2
The load on a unit width of slab is = 4.672ton
1.541
PS 4.672 ∗ 5.35
And the live load moment is M LL =
= = 6.25ton − m
4 4
50 50
The Impact Coefficient is I= = = 0.35 > I max = 0.3
3.28L + 125 3.28 ∗ 5.35 + 125
Take I = I max = 0.3 ⇒ Impact moment is

M I = I * M LL = 0.3 * 6.25 = 1.875 ton − m

The total moment is M total = M dl + M ll + M I = 3.76 + 6.25 + 1.875 = 11.885 ton − m

The neutral axis depth coefficient is

fs 2000 n 10
r= = = 20 k= = = 0.33 3 ⇒ k = 0.33
fc 100 n + r 10 + 20
The internal resisting moment arm coefficient is
k k 0.33
j = 1 − = (1 − ) = 1 − = 0.87 ⇒ j = 0.87
3 3 3
fc fc
The resisting moment capacity, is M = bkdjd = bkjd 2
2 2
The minimum permissible effective depth of slab is
2M 2 * 11.885 * 10 5
d= = = 28.7cm
f c kjb 100 * 0.33 * 0.87 *100
db 20
Assuming 5 cm clear cover plus = = 10mm = 1cm Overall depth is
2 2
h = 28.7 + 1 + 5 = 34.7cm ⇒ hence h = 35cm is − ok d = 35 − 5 − 1 = 29cm
The main reinforcement is

3/26/2007 Page 9 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

 M 11.885 *10 5
As = = = 23.6cm 2
f s jd 2000 * 0.87 * 29
100 * 4.9
Using ϕ 25mm bars Aφ = 4.9cm 2 spacing is S = = 20.7cm ⇒ take 20cm
23.6
Use φ 25mm @ 20cm C / C as main reinforcement.

The distribution reinforcement is as specified

0.55 0.55
percentage = ρ = = = 0.237=0.24
S 5.35
Asd = ρ × As = 0.24 ∗ 23.6 = 5.6cm 2
1.13 *100
Using φ16mm Aφ = 1.13cm 2 required Spacing is S= = 20cm
5.61
Use φ12mm @ 20cmC / C distribution reinforcement.

Curb Design:

The curb is assumed to be 60cm by 60cm, hence the dead load carried by edge beam is
Self wt. of curb = 0.6*0.6*1*2.5 = 0.9 ton / m

ql 2 0.9 * 5.35 2
M dl = = = 3.22t − m And the specified live load moment is:
8 8
M ll = 0.10 P 20 * S = 0.10 * 7.2 * 5.35 = 3.852ton − m The total moment is:

M total = M ll + M dl = 3.582 + 3.22 = 6.802tom − m The resisting moment is:

fc 100
M = kjbd 2 = ∗ 0.33 * 0.87 * 60 * 50 2 = 21.532 *10 5 kg − m = 21.532ton − m
2 2
which is greater than required moment M total = 6.802ton − m hence adequate.
M 21.53 *10 5
As = = = 24.75cm 2 Using φ 25mm Aφ = 4.9cm 2
jdf s .87 * 50 * 2000
21.53
No’s = = 4 − φ 25mm
4.9
According to AASHTO Specification, Slabs designed for bending moment may be considered
satisfactory for shear, but let’s try it
ql 0.9 * 5.35
Dead load shear is = Vdl = = = 2.41ton
2 2

3/26/2007 Page 10 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

 1.1
Live load Shear = Vll = 7.2 + 7.2 * = 8.68ton
5.35
Impact Shear = V I = 0.3 * 8.68 = 2.6ton

Total Shear = Vdl + Vll + VI = 2.6 + 8..68 + 2.41 = 13.69ton

According to AASHTO specification the allowable shear stress is

υall = 0.03 f ' c = 0.03 * 200 = 6kg / cm 2
V 13.69 * 10 3
Actual shear stress =υ = = = 5.42kg / cm 2 < 6kg / cm 2 ⇒ Safe
bdj 100 * 29 * .87
The reinforcement detail is shown bellow:

Problem;
Design a deck slab bridge according to AASHTO Specification for the following data:
f ' c = 250kg / cm 2 fy = 4000kg / cm 2
Clearwidth = 3.7 m Clear Span = 6m
Wearing Surface = 8 mm bitumen
Curb width = 60cm

3/26/2007 Page 11 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

Design of T-Beam Bridge
Data;

Clear span = 15m Clear width = 7.3 m

Live loading = HS20 Concrete Strength = 4000 kg/cm2
Grade of Concrete = 200 kg/cm2
Note: The design should meet the AASHTO specification.

Section dimension proportion

Take 5 longitudinal girders with the dimensions shown bellow
1600
Depth of girder for deflection control = L / 12 = = 133cm take ⇒ h =1.2
12
Assume the slab thickness t = 20cm and web width bw = 50cm

a- Slab Design
Since the slab and girder are monolithic the span would be taken as clear distance between
Girders, S = 1.825 − 0.5 = 1.325m

Self wt. of slab = 0.20 * 2.5 = 0.5t / m 2

Wt. of wearing coat = 0.08 * 2.2 = 0.176t / m 2
Total D.L = 0.676 t / m 2
qs 2 0.676 *1.325 2
Moment for D.L = ± M dl = = = 0.112t − m
10 10
According to AASHTO the live load moment for the slab with main reinforcement
perpendicular to traffic is given by the following formula,

⎛ 1.64S + 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1.64 *1.325 + 1 ⎞

M ll = 0.8⎜ ⎟ P20 = 0.8 * ⎜ ⎟ * 7.2 = 1.142t − m
⎝ 16 ⎠ ⎝ 16 ⎠
50 50
Impact factor is I= = = 0.38 > I max = 0.3
3.28S + 125 3.28 *1.325 + 125
Impact moment is MI = 0.3 * 1.142 = 0.343t − m

3/26/2007 Page 12 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

 Total moment = Mtotal = M dl + M ll + M I = 0.343 + 1.142 + 0.122 = 1.607t − m

Allowable concrete stress = f c = 0.4 f ' c = 0.4 * 250 = 100kg / cm 2

Allowable Steel Stress = 0.5 fy = 05 * 4000 = 2000kg / cm 2

fs 2000 n 10 k 0.3
r= = = 20 K= = = 0.33 j = 1 − = 1 − = 0.87
fc 100 n + r 10 + 20 3 3
Minimum required depth of slab is
2M 2 * 1.607 * 105
d= = = 10.58cm
fc * j * k * b 100 * 100 * 0.33 * 0.87

Assuming 5cm cover and 1cm half bar diameter, total depth is
h = 10.58+5+1=16.58 ⇒ take depth h =18cm
the remaining effective depth is d = 18 − 5 − 1 = 12cm
M 1.607 *105
As = = = 7.7cm 2
fs * j * d 2000 * 0.87 *12
100 * 2.01
Using Φ16mm with AΦ = 2.01cm 2 S= = 26cm ⇒ useΦ16mm @ 25cmC / C
7.7
Distribution reinforcement
120 120
Percentage of distribution reinforcement is % ρ = = = 104% > ρ max = 67%
S 1.325
Asd = 0.67 * 7.7 = 5.16cm 2
100 *1.13
Use Φ12mm AΦ = 1.13cm 2 with a spacing of S = = 21cm ⇒ take − S = 20cm
5.16
Use Φ12mm at 20 cm C/C

Design of Interior Girder

The interior girders are T beams with a flange width equal to center-to-center distance of girder,
the bearing width for girder is assumed to be 1m, and the effective span length is L = 15+1 =16m

Dead load moment,

Wt. of slab per meter of girder = 1.825 ∗ 0.18 * 2.5 + 1.825 * 0.08 * 2.2 = 1.142t / m
Self weight of girder per meter run = 0.5 * 1 * 2.5 = 1.25t / m
Total D.L = w = 2.39t / m
2 2
wl 2.39 *16
Md = = = 76.5t − m
8 8

3/26/2007 Page 13 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

 Live Load Moment, the maximum live load moment on the longitudinal girder will occur with
an HS20 truck on the bridge in the position shown bellow,

S 1.825
Girder share of wheel load = = = 0.997 ≈ 1
1.83 1.83
The load of rear tire on girder = 1 * 7.2 = 7.2ton
The load of front tire on girder = 1 * 1.78 = 1.78ton as shown above .
The max moment occurs at the point M,
∑MB = 0
− R A * 17 + 7.2 * 12.05 + 7.2 * 7.8 + 1.78 * 3.55 = 0 ⇒ R A = 8.78ton
∑Mm = 0
M max = 8.78 * 9.2 − 7.2 * 4.25 − 7.2 * 0 = 50.176ton − m
50 50
the impact factor is calculated by I = = = 0.27
3.28L + 125 3.28 *17 + 125

M I = 0.27 * M max = 0.27 * 50.176 = 13.55t 0n − m

M total = M I + M d + M ll = 13.55 + 50.176 + 76.5 = 140.226ton − m

Design Shear of girder

Vmax = Vd max + Vll max + VI
w * l 2.39 *16
Vd = = = 19.2ton
2 2
The maximum live load shear happens at the case shown bellow,

∑M B =0
− R A * 16 + 7.2 * 16 + 7.2 * 11.75 + 1.78 * 7.5 = 0 ⇒ R A = 13.32ton

3/26/2007 Page 14 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib

The max Impact shear is V I = 0.27 * 13.32 = 3.6ton
Vtotal = 3.6 + 13.32 + 19.2 = 36.12ton
According to AASHTO specification the allowable shear stress for concrete girders is
υ all = 0.06 * f ' c = 0.06 * 250 = 15kg / cm 2
V
The acual shear stress is given by; ν = assuming ν = υall
bdJ
V 36.12 *10 3 2767.8
bd = = = 2767.8cm 2 assuming bw = 40cm ⇒ d = = 69.2cm
υJ 15 * 0.87 50
using φ 25mmbars and 7cm clear cover and three layers of steel each 5cm apart total depth is
h = 69.2 + 5 + 2.5 + 2.5 * 0.5 + 7 = 84.95cm take overall depth h = 108cm
Actual effective depth d = 98 − 5 − 7 − 2.5 − 2.5 * 0.5 = 82.25cm

M 140.226 *10 5
As = = = 84.2cm 2 using φ 25mm Aφ = 4.9cm 2
t 18
fs (d − ) 2000 * (92.25 − )
2 2
75.2
No' s = = 17.18 ≈ 18 use three layers, 6 φ 25mm at each,
4.9
Design of web reinforcement

The concrete shear resistance is Vc = 0.53 f ' c = 0.53 250 * 40 * 92.25 = 30.92ton
Vu 36.12
Design shear is Vs = − Vc = − 30.92 = 11.57ton
Φ 0.85
Minimum Vs = 3.5 * bw * d = 3.5 * 40 * 92.25 = 12.915ton
Using Φ8mm 4-legged stirrups Aφ = 0.5cm 2 and Av = 4 * 0.5 = 2cm 2
Av * fs * d 2 * 2000 * 92.25
The spacing of web reinforcement is S = = = 28cm
Vs 12.915
Use Φ8mm 4-legged stirrups at 25 cm C/C
d 92.25
The max spacing is calculated to be S max = = 46cm
2 2
The web reinforcement arrangement is shown to be as following
Diaphragms,
Provide a traverse diaphragm at each end as well as in the midspan , of 30 cm width with a
nominal reinforcement, as shown bellow.

3/26/2007 Page 15 of 15 Prepared by: Ahmad Shoaib