Simplified and detailed calculations of long-term stress redistributions in continuous precast bridge decks

Abstract

Continuous bridge decks constructed with precast beams undergo important stress changes owing to concrete delayed deformations and phased construction. These stress redistributions can be determined through detailed finite-element phased analyses or, alternatively, by employing the effective modulus method (EMM). In this work, the accuracy of the EMM is discussed. Guidance on the quantification of the parameters involved in simplified calculations through the EMM is also given. Finally, the variability associated to the quantification of long-term stress redistributions is discussed, by using probabilistic analyses based on the Latin Hypercube Sampling Method.