Accelerated bridge construction techniques taking advantage of prefabricated bridge elements and high-performance materials are being used more frequently for bridge replacement projects. They result in minimal road closure times and traffic interruption and in the reconstruction of long-lasting highway bridges. Longitudinal closure pour connections are an important deck-level component for modular bridge elements that are heavily stressed by traffic loadings and environmental effects and whose durability is a concern. To address cracking and leakage issues in such connections, the strength and failure modes of the longitudinal ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) closure pour connection between adjacent prefabricated deck units were evaluated. First, specimens with and without a longitudinal UHPC closure pour connection were fabricated, instrumented, and tested. Finite element (FE) models were established to improve understanding of the behavior of the specimens under the loading condition. In addition, strut-and-tie models (STMs) were developed on the basis of FE model predictions to estimate the strength of the specimens. The jointed specimens were found not to have any cracks or leakage at the early stage but had lower cracking loads than did the jointless specimens. The strength and ductility of the jointed specimens were comparable with those of the jointless specimens. On the basis of the FE models and STMs, the ultimate strength of the specimens was accurately predicted.
Substructure bridge components are designed to resist gravitational forces such as dead load and vehicular live load, as well as lateral forces including wind, vehicular braking, and centrifugal force effects. Significant lateral forces can create “uplift” conditions on some portions of the foundation. A review of current design techniques regarding uplift in the pile-to-pile cap connection indicates a lack of uniformity in the design process across state agencies stemming from minimal research performed in this area. In addition, approved uplift anchors for use in the field have not been tested. In order to close this gap, twenty-one full-scale steel H-pile specimens were fabricated and tested in Iowa State University’s Structural Engineering Laboratory to test the capacity of the pile-to-pile cap connection under static tensile loading. Specimens were cast both with and without anchorage and with 12” and 24” embedment depths in order to understand the behavior of the connection and to determine a suitable anchorage detail and design approach for uplift cases. Findings revealed that: (i) capacity of bare piles is generally underestimated and could be more frequently considered for uplift design; (ii) concrete cracking leads to a loss of bond in these types of connections; and (iii) positive anchorage or embedment that extends above the lower rebar mat of the footing is necessary to develop a high capacity connection.
By using an electronic database consisting of previously tested pile data and ten completed full-scale pile tests in Iowa, USA, load and resistance factor design (LRFD) resistance factors considering various construction control methods and set-ups were developed. The focus of this paper is on technology transfer from research to practice as the resistance factors derived at the end of the research required modifications. In a collaboration between a state agency, a private company and a university, this effort facilitated the development of a pragmatic LRFD design guide considering the pile set-up phenomenon that is suitable for use by design engineers. A summary of the joint effort and details of the end product as a lesson for other transportation agencies and similar future endeavours is presented in this paper, which highlights the steps beyond research needed to make the research outcomes valuable for practical use in design and construction while promoting the use of the LRFD principle for pile design.
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