6 Analysis of Rigid

truck loading, and the average depth of the deck is usually as little as
1/25 of the span.
Far-reaching advantages can be gained from shallow bridge floors,
particularly in flat country where headroom is limited. The rigid frame
concrete bridge lowers the overpass roadway or raises the underpass road
way. Consequently, substantial reductions are obtained in volume of
embankment fill or excavation, and in area of land required for the ap
proaches; often the drainage of underpasses can also be simplified.
The ultimate cost of rigid frame concrete bridges is low. It includes
the three major items: first cost, maintenance, and replacement charges.
Compared with simple spans, maintenance expense is smaller since the
various details where the deck bears on the abutments are eliminated.
Rigid frame concrete bridges will have a practically unlimited length
of serviceable life; the annual charge for replacement is therefore un
usually small.
Rigid frame concrete bridges may be widened with but slight altera
tions of the existing structure. The widening operation need not inter
fere with normal traffic.
Traffic moves with the greatest safety both on and under rigid frame
concrete bridges. There are no structural parts projecting above the
roadway or track bed ; and the bridge deck can span farther without aid
of intermediate columns.
The waterway passage per foot of span length is greater under a rigid
frame concrete bridge than under an ordinary deck structure without
intermediate columns.
The expression of the continuity in the external aspects of the rigid
frame concrete bridge has given rise to a new and stimulating bridge
architecture of pleasing, aesthetic appearance.
Rigid frame concrete bridges with solid decks are economical up to
span lengths of about 70 feet for heavy highway loading. For long spans,
the ribbed deck construction is preferred on account of its lightness.
Rigid frame concrete bridges with spans up to 175 ft. 0 in. liave been
built in the United States.

SECTION II— ESTIMATING THE FRAME

DIMENSIONS
Two analyses of the forces and moments are usually needed for designs
of rigid frame bridges. The first analysis should consume a minimum of
time as its object is merely to determine the approximate frame dimen
sions. A more detailed analysis is needed to check the stresses in the
final structure.
The first approximate analysis may often be omitted and replaced by
empirical rules derived from similar structures formerly analyzed. It