Soil Structure Interaction Effects on Pushover Analysis of Short Span RC Bridges

A three dimensional finite element of nonlinear pushover analysis for short span Reinforced Concrete (RC) bridge with circular piers cross section is modeling to present effects of soil structural interaction (SSI). Structural elements models are including linear foundation springs modeling, and nonlinear RC piers modeling. The paper succeeded to present the SSI effects of nonlinear pushover analysis of short spans RC bridges to determine the significant effects on dynamic characteristics and displacement capacity of short span RC bridges performance;that is increasing within range 11% to 20% compared to baseline pushover analysis of bridge without SSI effects. Results show the bridge stiffness decreases due to SSI effects on the bridge support for more flexible soils types that generates large displacement, with corresponding less base shear in bridge piers and footings by average percentage 12% and 18%, which is important for structural evaluation for new bridge construction and also, for strengthening and repair works evaluation of existing bridges.

Web Shear Strengthening Technique of Deep Precast Prestressed Hollow Core Slabs under Truck Loads

Precast prestressed Hollow Core Slabs (HCS), are one of the famous and widely used slabs for concrete structures all over the world and widely implemented in the Middle East. HCS are used in industrial, commercial, residential buildings, as well as, in the parking structures. This paper succeeded to present new special details for deep HCS to enhance and strengthen the web shear strength capacity of HCS 400 and 500 mm depths respectively at the open parking area. This is subjected to heavy truck wheel loads so as to achieve the LRFD Code’s requirements. However, it is noticed many web shear cracks of HCS are used at parking area at many projects in Gulf Region. On the other hand, ACI318-14 permits no shear reinforcement in prestressed HCS thickness of less than 12.5 in (320 mm). The paper presents experimental tests program, to verify the numerical finite element of deep HCS under maximum design uniform loads, in addition to the new strengthening techniques. New strengthening techniques succeed to enhance the web shear capacity by significant percentage, due to the new details for HCS 400 by 68% up to 256% increasing of the web shear capacity compared to the ordinary HCS section. Also, HCS 500 shear capacity is enhanced with different percentages of strengthening techniques by 55%, up to 197% based on the different cases of strengthening. Furthermore enhancing deep HCS shear performance;the new techniques have an advantage of an easy execution at the site;casting with structural topping, otherwise the preparation can be done in precast factory before site handover, which saves time and cost compared to the others traditional strengthening techniques.