Response of prestressed concrete I-girder bridges to live load

Design and evaluation of prestressed concrete I-girder bridges is in large part dependent on the transverse load distribution characteristics and the dynamic load amplification, as well as service level, live load, and tensile stresses induced in the girders. This study presents the results of field tests conducted on three prestressed concrete I-girder bridges to obtain dynamic load allowance statistics, girder distribution factors (GDF), and service level stress statistics. The field-based data are also compared to approximate and numerical model results. Bridge response was measured at each girder for the passage of test trucks and normal truck traffic. The dynamic amplification is observed to be a strong function of peak static stress and a weak function of vehicle speed and is independent of span length, number of axles, and configuration. GDFs for one- and two-lanes are less than code specified GDFs. Results from the numerical grillage models agree closely with experimentally derived results for transverse distribution.