COMPOSITE BRIDGES

What is a composite bridge ?

It is one whose decking system consists of a
concrete slab and which in conjunction with
steel girders , resists moving loads on the
bridge.
This type of bridge is found to economical for
spans of 10 to 20 m .

What is composite bridge?

It offers :
1. More efficient use of materials, since the size of
the steel member can be significantly reduced
owing to incorporation of the deck into the
resisting cross-section ,i.e. into the compression
zone.
2. Speedy erection of prefabricated steel girders
3. Greater vertical clearance by effecting reduction
in beam depth.
4. Enhanced flexural stiffness , resulting in reduced
deflection and vibrations.

Explain in detail about shear

connectors
Its most imp structural element in a composite
bridge deck
Its provided at the junction of the concrete slab
and longitudinal steel girders.
Its generally a metal element of particular shape,
which extends vertically from the top flange of
the supporting beam and gets embedded into the
slab. Depending on the magnitude of the SF at
the interface of the beam and the slab, a number
of shear connectors can be placed along the
length of the beam.

Design requirements of shear

connectors
The shear connectors have to be designed to
facilitate conjoint action between the RC slab and
the steel beam. Their basic function is
To transfer the SF at the interface of the slab and
the beam without slip.
To prevent separation of the slab from the steel
beam in the perpendicular direction
There are rigid and flexible shear connectors. The
rigid type includes channel angles, tee sections
while the stud type of shear connectors come
under flexible type.

Different types of connectors

For a welded stud connector of steel with min ultimate strength fu of 460 MPA and
yield strength fy of 350 Mpa and having a ratio of (h/d) 4.2 , the safe shear for
each shear connector is given by
Q = 4.8 h d fck
Where
Q= safe shear resistance in N of 1 shear connector
h= height of the stud in mm
d= diameter of the stud in mm
fck= characteristic compressive strength of concrete
For a ratio h/d 4.2 , the safe shear resistance is given by
Q= 196 d2 fck
The spacing of the shear connectors can be determined from the formula .
p= NQ/ FS h
Where
p=spacing of the connectors in mm
N= number of connectors in a row
Q= safe shear resistance of a connector in newton
S h = horizontal shear stress developed per unit length of the beam in N/m
F- factor of safety , generally taken as 2

Factors to be considered for the

selection of bridge site
The characteristics of an ideal site for a bridge across a river are :
1. A straight reach of river
2. Steady river flow without serious whirls and cross currents.
3. A narrow channel with firm banks
4. Rock or other hard inerodible strata close to the river bed level.
5. Economical approaches which should be not very high or long ;
the approaches should be free from obstacles such as hills, sacred
places, graveyards or troublesome land acquisitions.
6. Proximity to a direct alignment of the road to be connected.
7. Absence of sharp curves in approaches
8. Absence of expensive river training works
9. Avoidance of excessive underwater construction
10. Suitable high banks above HFL on each side.

What preliminary data should be collected and

analysed by engineer in charge of the investigation of a
bridge site?
1.
2.
3.
4.

Need for large scale river training works

Means of transport for materials
Name of the stream and road
Location of the nearest GTS( Great Trigonometric Survey) benchmark with its
reduced level.
5. Present and anticipated future volume and nature of traffic on the road at the
bridge site.
6. Hydraulic data pertaining to the river, including the HFL, OFL and LWL , size
,shape ,slope and nature of catchment , frequency of rainfall in catchment and
probability of large trees or rolling debris floating down the stream.
7. Availability of skilled and unskilled labor for different trades required for
construction.
8. Facilities required for housing labor during construction
9. Important details of the bridges, if any , crossing the same river , within a
reasonable distance of the proposed bridges.
10. Availability of electric power

Explain in detail about crash barriers in

bridges
IRC 6
clause 209.7

What is Impact factor ? How is it

calculated for class A and class AA loading
Impact factors are generally applied to the
moving wheel or distributed loads to enhance
their magnitude to include the dynamic
effects on the bridge deck.
IRC 6
Clause 211

Explain the effect of centrifugal forces

on a road bridge
IRC 6 clause 215

Explain the effect of horizontal forces due

to water currents on a bridge structure
IRC 6 clause 213

Explain IRC class AA tracked and

wheeled loadings with neat sketches
IRC 6
Clause 207

Explain in detail the loads and forces to be

considered in designing road bridges and
culverts

IRC 6