Testing, Analysis, and Load Rating of Precast Prestressed Concrete Deck Beams with Transverse Cracks

Andrawes, Bassem; Gunasekaran, Dachina

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/128306 Copy

Description

Title

Testing, Analysis, and Load Rating of Precast Prestressed Concrete Deck Beams with Transverse Cracks

Author(s)

• Andrawes, Bassem
• Gunasekaran, Dachina

Issue Date

2025-05

Keyword(s)

• Box Beams
• Transverse Cracks
• Residual Capacity
• Prestressed Concrete
• Load Rating
• Parametric Study

Date of Ingest

2025-05-12T09:56:57-05:00

Abstract

This study focused on understanding the impact of transverse cracks on the residual capacity and load rating analysis of in-service precast prestressed concrete (PPC) deck beams. Two decommissioned (33 × 36 and 21 × 36) PPC deck beams were tested under four-point bending loads to assess the impact of transverse cracks on the structural performance of the beams. Finite element and theoretical cracked section analyses were also performed to investigate the capacity of the as-built and cracked PPC deck beam. Transverse cracks reduced the load rating capacity of the 33 × 36 beam by almost 34%, which subsequently reduced the capacity-based load rating factor by 22% under the HS-20 truck load. The experimental investigation of the 21 × 36 PPC deck beam showed that the load required to induce visible cracks in the beam was 95.5% of its AASHTO live load capacity. The load rating of the cracked 21 × 36 beam was 73.6% lower than its as-built capacity, exhibiting a severe reduction in its load-bearing capacity. A parametric study was conducted to understand the effect of the influencing parameters, like the beam geometry and material properties, on the damaged beams’ behavior. For PPC deck beams with rectangular voids, the statistically significant parameters were span length, strand diameter, and skew angle. In the parametric study, the inventory load rating factor of the prestressing strands in tension was predicted to decrease linearly for a crack width up to 0.64 mm, while the capacity inventory rating factor was predicted to decrease up to 73.8% for a crack width of 0.64 mm.

Publisher

Illinois Center for Transportation/Illinois Department of Transportation

Has Part

ISSN: 0197-9191

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-ICT-25-002

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

technical report

Language

eng

DOI

https://doi.org/10.36501/0197-9191/25-002

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

IDOT-R27-226

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

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