Evaluation of a Prestressed Panel, Cast-In-Place Concrete Bridge (145-3)

A relatively new type of beam and slab bridge which makes use of precast, prestressed panels as part of the slab was investigated. In this type of bridge construction, the panels are placed to span between the beams and serve as forms for the cast-in-place portion of the deck. They remain in place to become an integral part of the continuous structural slab. Composite action is obtained in the structure by bonding the prestressed elements together with the cast-in-place portion of the deck. This type of structure incorporates unproven structural details--the bonding of concrete at the interfaces and the inclusion of panel butt joints.|The purpose of this study was to experimentally and theoretically investigate the ability of this type of structure to distribute wheel loads in a satisfactory manner and to behave as a composite unit.|A full-scale, simple span, prestressed panel type bridge was structurally tested in the laboratory. The bridge was subjected to cyclic applications of design loads and finally to static failure loads. It performed satisfactorily under all load conditions.|On the basis of information developed in this study, it was concluded that the use of prestressed panels is a suitable method of highway bridge construction.