Link Slab Continuity Detail on Long-Span Bridges

摘要

Many existing and new steel and concrete bridges with simply supported girders where the deck is made continuous over the supports have shown cracking of the deck and often complete separation at the point of continuity. Improvements to the continuity detail can be made for both steel and concrete superstructures to decrease long-term maintenance costs of this detail. Continuity can be achieved in simple span steel girder bridges by connecting the simply supported girders with a plate to the top flanges of girders in adjacent spans then pouring the deck continuously over the location of the former joint. In simple span prestressed concrete girder bridges, the continuity is achieved by pouring the deck continuously over the piers between the girders of adjacent spans. The paper details several continuity options used in both steel and concrete structures.