Highway Bridge Design for Beginners

Dr. M. Azhar Saleem

May 10, 2016

One Day, 1 CPD Point Seminar

Department of Civil Engineering

University of Engineering and Technology
Lahore, Pakistan
Introduction
Outline – Part A, Dr. Azhar Saleem

◦ Introduction to Bridges and Bridge Aesthetics

◦ AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications
◦ West Pakistan Highway Code of Practice
◦ Deck analysis and design

Outline – Part B, Engr. Hafiz M. Ahmad

◦ General Design Considerations

◦ Prestressed girder – Analysis and Design
◦ Substructures

2
Introduction
References

Barker M. and Puckett J., Design of Highway Bridges, An LRFD
Approach, 2nd Ed, Wiley & Sons, 2007.

AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification, 5th Edition, 2010.

Tonias D. and Zhao J., Bridge Engineering, 2nd Edition, Mc
Graw-Hill, 2007.

Leonardo Fernández Troyano, Bridge Engineering: a global
perspective, Thomas Telford, Ltd, 2003.

Menn, Christian, Prestress Concrete Bridges, Birkhäuser Verlag,
1990.

Nigel R. Hewson, Prestressed Concrete Bridges: Design and
Construction, Thomas Telford, Ltd, 2003.

Schlaich J. and Scheef H., Concrete Box Girder Bridges, IABSE,
1982.

Publications by FHWA, www.fhwa.org

Publications by AASHTO, lrfd.aashtoware.org

Publications by the National Steel Bridge Alliance,
www.steelbridge.org
3
Bridges…Definition

Bridges are structures that connect and/or cross two
points separated by a road, river or valley.

In social terms they connect communities, nations,

races, etc. and are sign of friendship and peace.

In structural terms, bridges are fascinating structures, a

source of challenge to engineers and builders.

In many respects, bridge engineers can express their talent

through these art forms and sculptures.

4
Bridges…Design

Bridges are essential elements of a transportation network
since they control the capacity of the system, and as such
they should be carefully planned and engineered.

Unlike other structural systems, bridge design depends on

how the different bridge components (deck, girders, etc)
are put together or built. In some cases, loads generated
during bridge construction control the member sizes. Hence,
special attention shall be given on how a bridge is built
and shall be clearly expressed or described in contractual
documents.

5
Bridges Do Not Just
Happen
They must be planned and
Engineered Before They can
be Constructed

6
 Transportation Project

Financing Procurement

Design Construction

Planning Project Maintenance

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 Bridge Engineering

Design Process-
Process-1
Phase 1: Owner’s Requirements

Functional

Aesthetics Budget

Design
Criteria

8
 Bridge Engineering

Design Process-
Process-2
Phase 2: Design Development

Preliminary Designs

Development of Alternatives

Selection of Recommended
Alternative

Adequate Cost Effective

Constructible and
Maintainable
9
 Bridge Engineering

Design Process-
Process-3
Phase 3: Contract Plans

Structural Analysis

Structural Design

Plan Production

Specifications and Bid

Documents
10
 Construction Process

Construction Engineering
◦ Shop drawings production
◦ Construction analysis
◦ False work design

Construction
◦ Crew efficiency
◦ Geometry control
◦ Storage
◦ Equipment staging
◦ Temporary bracing
◦ Maintenance of Traffic (MOT)
◦ Erection sequence
◦ Casting
11
Types of Bridges

Slab-on-stringer (95% of all types)

Steel and Concrete Box Girders

Steel and Concrete Arch

Trusses

Moveable (Lift, bascule and swing etc.)

Suspension

12
 Bridge Engineering

Types of Bridges

Slab on Stringer Box Girder

Arch Truss 13
 Bridge Engineering

Types of Bridges

Bascule Lift

Moveable
Bridge

Swing 14
 Bridge Engineering

Types of Bridges
Golden Gate Bridge

Suspension Bridge
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Types of Bridges

16
 Bridge Engineering

Span Rang

17
 Bridge Engineering

Bridge Selection

18
 Bridge Engineering

Bridge Components

The stone clapper Darth River (Dartmoor) bridge, built in 111 BC by Celtic tribes
of Scotland is shown above. It has the same fundamental elements of a modern
highway bridge: a super-structure and a substructure. The stones are quality
grade granite. 19
Bridge Components

Julius Caesar’s temporary
bridge across the Rhine in 56
BC, was built in 3 days, and
then dismantled in one day
after a successful campaign in
Germany.
(“The Conquest of Gaul”, by J.
Caesar, 50 BC).

Note the basic elements

still present in today’s
bridges.

20
 Bridge Components

The Roman aqueduct/bridge Pont du Gard in France is over 19

centuries old 21
Bridge Components

22
 Bridge Engineering

Bridge Components

23
 Bridge Engineering

Bridge Components

End Bent 24
 Bridge Engineering

Bridge Components

Typical Components of Box Girder Bridge

25
 Bridge Engineering

Bridge Components

Typical Components of Composite I-girder Bridge

26
 Bridge Engineering

Bridge Components

A modern slab-on-stringer highway bridge, with steel stringers

and lateral bracing 27
 Bridge Engineering

Bridge Components

Welded curved steel stringers. 28

Bridge Components

Elements of Substructure
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Bridge Aesthetics

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Bridge Aesthetics

Architects

Landscape Artists

Illumination Experts

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35
36
37
38
Hegel Said:

It is impossible to discover a rule

that can be used to judge what is
beautiful and what is not.

39
 AASHTO LRFD
Bridge
Design Specifications

40
American Association of State Highway
Officials (AASHO
(AASHO))
Founded on:

Dec. 12, 1914

Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges

and Incidental Structures, 1931
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In 1963, AASHO
became
AASH TO
42
History of Bridge Codes in USA

From 1931 to 2002 the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) published
the Standard Specifications for Design of Highway
Bridges (17 Eds.). Updates in the form of interims were done
annually

In the late 1970’s, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation
published limit-state design bridge specifications.

In 1986, the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
published the LRFD Manual of Steel Construction

In 1988, NCHRP 12-33 sponsored the “Development of
Comprehensive Specifications and Commentary”

In 1994, the AASHTO LRFD Specifications for Design of
Highway Bridges, Ist Edition, was published.

AASHTO LRFD, 7th Ed. , 2016 is the Latest

43
American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO
(AASHTO))
AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association
representing highway and transportation
departments in the 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It represents all five
transportation modes: air, highway, public
transportation, rail, and water. Its primary goal is
to foster the development, operation, and
maintenance of an integrated national
transportation system

44
American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO
(AASHTO))

45
 AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

The provisions of these specifications are

intended for the design, evaluation, and
rehabilitation of both fixed and movable highway
bridge.

Horizontally curved concrete girders are not fully

covered and were not part of calibration data.

These specifications are not intended to supplant

proper training or exercise of judgment by
designer, and state only minimum requirements
necessary to provide for public safety.
AASHTO 1.1 46
More than 2000 Pages

47
 Bridge Engineering

AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

Bridge: Any structure having an opening not less than 20

ft. that forms part of a highway or that is located over or
under a highway

Design Life: Period of time on which the statistical

derivation of transient load is based: 75 years for these
specification.

Ductility: Property of a component or connection that

allows inelastic response.

Extreme Event Limit States: Limit states relating to

events such as earthquakes, ice load, and vehicle and vessel
collision, with return periods in excess of the design life of
the bridge

AASHTO 1.2 48
 Bridge Engineering

AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

Factored Load: The nominal loads multiplied by the

appropriate load factors specified for the load combination
under consideration.

Factored Resistance: The nominal resistance multiplied

by the resistance factor.

Limit State: A condition beyond which the bridge or

component ceases to satisfy the provisions for which it was
designed.

Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD): A

reliability-based design methodology in which force effects
caused by factored loads are not permitted to exceed the
factored resistance of components

AASHTO 1.2 49
 Bridge Engineering

AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

Load Factor: A statistically-based multiplied applied to

force effects accounting primarily for variability of loads,
the lack of accuracy in analysis, and probability of
simultaneous occurrence of different loads, but also related
statics of the resistance through the calibration process.
Nominal Resistance: Resistance of a component or
connection to force effects, as indicated by the dimensions
specified in the contract documents and by permissible
stress, deformations, or specified strength of materials.
Resistance Factor: A statistically-based multiplier
applied to nominal resistance accounting primarily for
variability of material properties, structural dimensions
and workmanship, and uncertainty in the prediction of
resistance, but also related to statistics of the loads through
the calibration process.
AASHTO 1.2 50
 Bridge Engineering

AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

Regular Service: Condition excluding the presence of

special permit vehicles, wind exceeding 55 mph, and
extreme events, including scour.

Service Life: The period of time that the bridge is

expected to be in operation.

Service Limit States: Limit states relating to stress,

deformation and cracking under regular operating
conditions.

Strength Limit States: Limit states relating to strength

and stability during the design life.

AASHTO 1.2 51
Design Approach-
Approach-AASHTO
In the beginning, the design philosophy
utilized in the Standard Specification
was Allowable Stress Design.

In the 1970s, variations in the

uncertainties of loads were considered
and Load Factor Design was
introduced as an alternative method.

52
Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)

LRFD is the prevailing method for design of

bridges structures. This is reliability-based
methodology which uses state-of-the-art
analysis and design technique. The l0ad and
resistance factor are calibrated from actual
bridge statistics to ensure a uniform level of
safety. Modern codes around the world use this
design philosophy which leads to superior
serviceability.

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AASHTO LRFD Survey in the U.S.A.
May 2006

54
Move to AASHTO LRFD
Specification

55
 Design Philosophy
The current design philosophy used the same principles
as in concrete buildings (ACI) and steel (AISC), that
factoring loads and adjusting resistance: LRFD

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Strength--I Limit State
Strength
(Load Combination)

1.75 LL + 1.25 DC + 1.5 DW

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Influence Lines

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Influence Lines

Influence lines are graphical representations of the
effect of moving loads (live loads) in structural
systems. They are represented by a unit load of
variable position at a given point in the structural
system,. These diagrams are used to compute the
maximum response at a given section in the
structures.

Influence lines play a primary role in structures subjected

to moving load, such as bridges, industrial crane rails,
and systems where loads move across spans.

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ILD for Moment

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61
Maximum Positive Moment

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Bridge System Analysis
A bridge is a 3-D structure that in addition to gravity
loads is subjected to moving loads. A full blown
analysis will require the use of finite element
methods, however, for many years bridge engineering
practice has reduce the computational effort by a
more manageable and simpler structural modeling.

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Bridge System Analysis
AASHTO LRFD provides a simplified way of
computing effects of moving loads. This approximate
model is called Line Girder Analysis. Line girder
analysis is simple to understand and calculate,
however, the big unknown is, how to compute the
effects of moving loads? These effects are obtained

through what is called as Distribution

Factor. The distribution factor is defined as
the ratio of a maximum effect (shear and moment)
to the simplified results of a line girder (one-
dimensional analysis).

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Move to AASHTO LRFD
Specification

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AASHTO Design Procedure for
Distribution Factors
To determine the moment and shear in a particular
beam:
1. Compute moment and shear per lane
2. Compute distribution factor for both M and V
(DFm and DFv)
3. Add IM – only to truck and/or tandem
4. Determine the moment and shear for the specified
beam

66
 AASHTO Design Procedure for
Distribution Factors

M LL+IM = DFM x MLL+IM (Lane)

VLL+IM = DFV x VLL+IM (Lane)

The DF for AASHTO LRFD tables already include the multi-

presence factor m. If using lever rule, add factor m.
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Move to Example in the Handout

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Deck Design

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Deck Design

Empirical Design Method (9.7.2)

Traditional Method (9.7.3)

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Move to AASHTO

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Empirical Design Method

Bottom Reinforcement = 0.27 in2/ft
◦#6@18” c/c
◦#4@8” c/c

Top Reinforcement = 0.18 in2/ft
◦#4@12c/c
◦ Bar spacing < 18”

72
Tradition Design Methods

Move to AASHTO

73
Concluded

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