CHAPTER 5

SUPER STRUCTURES
 1. Introduction
 An efficient design of bridge superstructure is
essential to achieve overall economy in the whole
bridge structure
 A clear understanding of the structural behavior of
superstructures under loads is essential for efficient
design
 Static analysis will be used for structures that are
relatively insensitive to dynamic action of moving
live loads and, wind and earthquake loads, and
which undergo small deformations
Load path from bridge deck down to foundation
 Slab Bridges
 Slab bridges are most commonly used to short
spans up to 12m
 The load carrying mechanism is by plate action,
i.e., by bending and twisting due to continuity in
all directions
 Application of a load on the portion make the
slab deflect into a dish shape locally, causing a
two-dimensional system of bending and twisting
moments
 Cont…
 The equivalent width E of an interior
longitudinal strip per lane for both shear and
moment with one lane loaded, (i.e., two lines of
wheels) may be determined from
E = 250 + 0.42 √L1W1
 The equivalent width E per lane with more than
one lane loaded, may be determined from
Multiple lanes loaded
E = 2100 + 0.12 √L1W1
Cont…
Minimum depths [AASHTO 2005, Art. 2.5.6.2.3]