International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 7(3), ISSN: 2394-9333
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Analysis and Design of Voided Slab Bridge
1
Brajesh Kumar, 2Dr. Pankaj Singh, 3Ravindra Gautam,
1
M.Tech. Scholar 2HOD, 3Associate Professor,
1,2
S R K University, Bhopal, India, 3KIET Group of Institutions Ghaziabad, India
Abstract: Circular voids are often incorporated into concrete the use of costly high-tensile steel in the girder. Slab type
bridge decks to reduce their self-weight without greatly superstructure These types of structures require more steel and
reducing their flexural stiffness. Incorporating voids within the concrete compared to that of girder bridges of same span. The
deck slab offers many advantages over a conventional solid overall cost of construction of these bridges is lower and is
concrete slab like lower total cost of construction, reduced easier to construct. The limit of span of slab bridges depends
material use and increased structural efficiency. However the on magnitude of load and relative cost of frame work,
voids within the structure complicate the analysis of the materials and labour. In slab type superstructure bridges, it is
structure. In this thesis a manual analysis for both longitudinal the slabs that are major load carrying elements. The loads are
and transverse direction of voided slab bridge is done as per directly transferred to substructure through slabs. Bridges are
the industrial standards. For transverse analysis the bridge is referred as slab bridges if ratio between W/D ≥ 5, where W
idealized using STAAD pro software. The detailing of the =total width of slab and D= Depth of slab ( if W/D < 5, then
complicated structure is also included in order to understand the bridge is referred as beam bridge). Slab bridges can be
how the reinforcement is placed in the structure. classified as per their construction: Solid slab bridges, voided
slab bridges and ribbed bridges. The study here consists of
Keywords — Voids, Longitudinal Analysis, Transverse
solid slabs and voided slabs. A comparative analysis is done
Analysis, STAAD pro
for both type of slabs.
I. INTRODUCTION
Solid slab bridges
Bridge construction plays a vital role in development of cities
Solid slab decks comprises of a solid section, without beams
and thus, has achieved great significance these days. It
or voids. This type of deck is commonly used in the
facilitates a free and undisturbed movement for traffic. It also
construction of short span bridges and culverts. As the slabs
plays an important role in development of trade and industries,
are solid, the cross section from any point is a homogeneous
enhancing progress of the nation. A prestressed concrete slab
structure. The construction of solid slab bridge decks is straight
constitutes a great portion of bridges all around the world.
forward and easier. Also the formwork required is very simple
Prestressed concrete was introduced into bridge construction
and easy. As the structure is solid and the cross section
since very early period of time. In past decades wide varieties
homogeneous, the layout of reinforcement becomes very easy.
of new techniques have been developed. Along with new
There is no congestion of reinforcements created and thus,
developments in technologies spans became longer and
placing concrete becomeThe one and major backdrop of solid
aesthetics and appearance of bridge became more important.
slabs is a very large volume of concrete. This effects cost and
Prestressed concrete bridges include a wide variety of different
self-weight both. Due to high concrete volume, these slabs
forms like cast-in-situ or precast concrete; continuous or cable-
have a greater self-weight. This can be avoided to certain
stayed; simply supported; box-girders, slabs or beams. Among
extent by providing suitable variations in thickness of the slab.
wide variety of prestressed concrete bridges, a study on solid
But this shall be checked properly before commencing.
and voided slabs has been carried out. A comparison regarding
Another method to reduce self-weight is by providing voids in
forces and moment in both cases for different spans and
the slabs. This is explained in voided slabs.
sections is done; thus, analyzing both cases for a better section
to be used. Voided slab Bridges
Prestress Concrete Bridges Voided slabs are characterized by presence of voids within the
slab. As it was discussed in solid slab section voids in the slab
High-strength concrete and high-tensile steel, besides being
helps reducing the self weight of structure. Thus, the major
economical, make for slender sections, which are aesthetically
function of voided slabs is to reduce the concrete volume and
superior. Prestressed concrete bridges can be designed as class
thereby decrease the self weight of slab. When the concrete is
I type structures without any tensile stresses under service
being cast, the void formers are subjected to large buoyancy
loads, thus resulting in a crack-free structure. In comparison
forces. These buoyancy forces are resisted by straps tied to
with steel bridges, prestressed concrete bridges require very
bearers below the formwork. If proper care is not taken during
little maintenance. Prestressed concrete is ideally suited for
this process, it can create major difficulties; sometimes to the
composite bridge construction in which precast prestressed
extent of demolishing the slab. Hence, it should be properly
girders support the cast in situ slab deck.
designed and the formers to be used must be sufficiently rigid,
This type of construction is very popular since it involves thoroughly sealed and tied before commencement. The voids
minimum disruption of traffic. Post-tensioned prestressed are usually cylindrical and are constructed using a hollow thin
concrete finds extensive applications in long-span continuous walled steel sections placed in the slab. If designed properly, it
girder bridges of variable cross-section. Not only does it make can reduce the self weight of slab up to 35% as compared to
for sleek. structures, but it also effects considerable saving in solid slab for same section and span. The voided slabs can be
the overall cost of construction. In recent years, partially modelled and designed by the method same as that used for
prestressed concrete (type-3 structure) has been preferred for solid slab in case of void diameters less than 60% of the depth
bridge construction, because it offers considerable economy in of slab. In case of diameters larger than 60% of slab depth the
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behaviour of the same becomes a cellular behaviour. Apart
from reducing the slab weight and concrete volume of the slab,
the voided slabs helps providing advantages also like; it
provides large open floor areas. Also, large spans are possible
to construct without beams by providing voided slabs. The
biaxial forces created helps in reduction of deflection. Again
by reducing material consumption, it is thus economic
compared solid slab or beams.es easier.
Figure 1.6: Spirally wound metal sheet
Figure 1.1: Typical voided slab
Concrete is strong in compression; but is weak in tension.
Concrete experiences prestressing because of the force that is
transferred between the prestressed tendon and concrete. The
tendons when pulled or stressed are under tension. This tension
in tendons is balanced by compression in concrete. Thus, an
external compressive force applied to concrete counteracts the
tensile stresses generated under shear forces and bending
moments caused due applied loading. The tendons can be
externally placed or can be internal tendons. Also, it can be
bonded tendons or unbounded tendons. Again, they could be
pre-tensioned or post tensioned. However, its effect and
principles remains the same. The concrete if prestressed fully;
that is full prestressed concrete, ensures longitudinal stress in
compression always and a partially prestressed concrete allows
a part of tension to occur under some specific loading
conditions.
Materials for Void Formers
Various types of void formers have been used, spirally wound Figure 1.7: Expanded Polystyrene
sheet metal being an early form. The voids became full of Objectives
water during construction which resulted in the overstressing
of the deck. The use of expanded polystyrene overcomes the (i) To perform a manual analysis for different loading
problem of water logging since the material consists of series combinations as per IRC loading criteria.
of small closed cells whose porosity is less when compared to (ii) To obtain the critical load positions that causes severe
the total volume. It also has an advantage of being readily cut distress in the structure.
using hot wire inbfactory or using hand saw in site. (iii) To get an overall idea of how the complicated bridge
structures are designed in the industry.
II. METHODOLOGY
Analysis and design by STAAD pro.
Preliminary Data For Analysis
The voided slab bridge considered here is a RCC cast in
situ simply supported bridge of span 30 m.
Carriageway width =12.1 m
Overall width = 13 m
Width of crash barrier = 0.45 m
Thickness of wearing coat=75 mm
Cantilever portion of deck=1.5 m
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Thickness of cantilever deck slab=0.35 m Grade of concrete=M35
Depth of voided slab =2.1 m Grade of steel =Fe 500
No of voids in the deck=4
Length of solid section at both ends= 3 m
Figure 3.1: Cross section details of voided slab
Figure 3.2: Cross section details of end section
III. ANALYSIS OF VOIDED SLAB BRIDGE wheel load of the vehicle is moved transversely such that it
occupies different positions on the deck and the maximum
The analysis is done separately for both longitudinal and
response can be calculated for each of the loading case. Since it
transverse direction.
will be tedious to manually calculate the response at every 0.1
Longitudinal Analysis m, computer analysis program such as STAAD can be used.
In longitudinal analysis, the bending moment and shear force To analyze the effect due to live loads, first unit load is run to
due to dead load and live load are found in the longitudinal obtain the influence ordinates. Then at each position of loading
direction. The effect due to impact, temperature stresses are and combination, effective width and equivalent concentrated
also included and also a reduction is done in the longitudinal load per meter run is calculated. Effective width for each
effect as all the lanes will not be subjected to characteristic location of load is calculated and thus each wheel load is
loading. converted to wheel load per unit width of the slab. For
transverse analysis of the mid-section, the deck is idealized as
Transverse Analysis 13 beam elements connected with nodes at the ends.
Different load positions for each type of loading are checked
and the maximum response has to be found out. For this the
Fig.6 Idealized bridge deck for transverse analysis
Transverse analysis is carried out for the two cases separately Transverse Analysis of Simply Supported Portion
i. When the wheel is in the simply supported portion In order to find the locations of maximum bending moment
along the transverse direction, the deck is idealized into beam
ii. When the wheel is in cantilever portion
elements. The deck is modeled using STAAD software and a
unit load is run and the influence ordinates are obtained. For
example for beam 4 the influence ordinate at every 0.1 m is
obtained from STAAD as shown in the figure below.
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Now at each location effective width is calculated for four Where
combinations i.e., 1 laneA, 2 lane A, 3lane A and 1 laneA+1
lo is the effective span
lane 70R wheeled and the maximum value isselected.
a is the centre of gravity of the concentrated loadfrom
According to IRC 21:2000 Pg 52, effective width for a solid
thenearer support.
slab spanning in onedirection for a single concentrated load
isgiven by bt is the breadth of tyre+ twice the thickness ofwearing coat.
beff= α a[1-a/lo]+bt, α is a coefficient depending upon the value b/lo ,where b is the
width of the slab.
Fig. 5.1 Beam end forces for beam 4 from STAAD
found and it is checked whether the loads will overlap and if
so the load is modified
Fig. 5.3 Wheel `position for maximum positive bending
moment for beam 4
Now this concentrated load is applied on the model and is
analyzed to get the moments at each section. This procedure
is repeated for all the other beams and the moments are
Fig. 5.2 Influence line diagram for moment beam 4node 4
obtained at each section.
The effective width at the position of maximum bending
Thus, for various positions of loading the maximum
moment is calculated. Then load per effective width is
moment from the different combination are summarized as
shown below.
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Transverse Analysis of Cantilever Portion length of the cantilever. Hence no live load will be acting in
70R loading. Thus live load due to class A loading is
The cantilever portion of the voided slab bridge consists of the
considered. The impact load is also added to get the final live
crash barrier and wearing coat. The dead load on the cantilever
load bending moment.
portion includes the weight from crash barrier, wearing coat
and the self-weight of the slab. For live load cantilever portion Longitudinal Moments
has to be checked
The reinforcement details for the longitudinal moments at mid
Individually for 70R loading and class A loading. Minimum span, l/3 and at a distance “d” from the face of support are
clearance required in the case of 70Rloading is greater than the summarized as shown below.
Table 6.1: Area of Steel in Longitudinal Direction
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Minimum steel in longitudinal direction at solid portion as per reinforcement details in the transverse direction are
clause 305.19 of RC: 21-2000, = 0.15% of total cross sectional summarized below. Cross reinforcement of 12 dia bars at 150
area=1650 mm2So provide 16 mm Dia. bar at 120 mm c/c. mm c/c are provided in order to keep the voids intact.
Transverse Moments Table 6.2: Area of Steel in Transverse Direction
As per clause 5.2.2.of IRC: SP: 64-2005,
Area of steel reinforcement
where
he= c/c distance of compression and tension flange,
d=diameter of voids
Minimum transverse reinforcement in the bottom,as per clause
8 of IRC: SP: 64-2005, In top and bottom of bottom flange is
750mm2 /m or 0.5% of minimum flange area.
Minimum transverse reinforcement in the top, as per clause 8
of IRC: SP: 64-2005, In top and bottom of top flange is
500mm2 /m or 0.35% of minimum flange area. The
DETAILING
Figure 6.1: Plan of the bridge
Figure 6.2: Detailing of Section A-A of the bridge
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Figure 6.3: Detailing of Section 1-1
Figure 6.4: Detailing of Section 2-2
CONCLUSION Science (IJLTEMAS) Volume VII, Issue IV, April
2018 | ISSN 2278-2540 www.ijltemas.in Page 354
The conclusions arrived after the analysis and design of the
[3] B. VaignanDr.B.S.R.K Prasad Analysis of Voided
voided slab bridge can be summarized as follows:
Deck Slab and Cellular Deck Slab using Midas Civil
(i) The design of the bridge superstructure is a work International Journal of Engineering Research &
that requires great expertise and also knowledge to Technology (IJERT) IJERTIJERT ISSN: 2278-0181
foresee unexpected situations that may come IJERTV3IS090981 www.ijert.orgThis work is
during the construction stage. licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
(ii) The longitudinal moments are the governing International License.) Vol. 3 Issue 9, September-
moments and if the main bending has to suffice it 2014
should not fail in transverse direction. [4] Nipa Chauhan, Prof. Farhan A. Vahora Comparative
(iii) Transverse analysis makes the whole structure as a Study And Design Of Prestressed Concrete Solid
single unit thereby taking care of the stresses due to And Voided Slab Bridges International Journal For
individual loadings. Technological Research In Engineering Volume 4,
(iv) Detailed analysis for the various IRC loadings have Issue 2, October-2016 ISSN (Online): 2347 – 4718
helped in understanding the critical load position www.ijtre.com Copyright 2016.All rights reserved.
and combinations that govern the entire design. 354
(v) If the void ratio is less than 40 %, the voided slab [5] Pooja C1, Arun L2, Thejashwini3 Analysis And
can be analyzed using the samemethods that of Design Of Bridge Deck Using Grillage Method - AS
solid slab in longitudinal direction. PER IRC International Research Journal of
Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN:
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