Prefabricated Composite Dowels Girders for Small Bridges‐Structural Design and Efficiency Evaluation

Abstract

A novel prefabricated steel‐concrete composite girder is proposed, which aims to provide an economic and sustainable solution for small bridge construction. The girder consists of composite dowels and concrete slabs. The depth of composite girder is analyzed in a span range of 8‐20m. A continuous deck joint between the simply supported bridge is proposed to enhance the durability of the girder. Carbon emissions from construction materials are compared between different schemes. The efficiency of the schemes is evaluated through Live Load Structural Index.