Investigation of Steel-Stringer Bridges: Superstructures and Substructures, Volume I

The mission of the Bridge Engineering Center is to conduct research on bridge technologies to help bridge designers/owners design, build, and maintain long-lasting bridges. The contents of this report refl ect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. The opinions, fi ndings and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the sponsors. The sponsors assume no liability for the contents or use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specifi cation, or regulation. The sponsors do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document. 16. Abstract There are hundreds of structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges in the state of Iowa. With the majority of these bridges located on rural county roads where there is limited funding available to replace the bridges, diagnostic load testing can be utilized to determine the actual load carrying capacity of the bridge. One particular family or fleet of bridges that has been determined to be desirable for load testing consists of single-span bridges with non-composite, cast-in-place concrete decks, steel stringers, and timber substructures. Six bridges with poor performing superstructure and substructure from the aforementioned family of bridges were selected to be load tested. The six bridges were located on rural roads in five different counties in Iowa: Boone, Carroll, Humboldt, Mahaska, and Marshall. Volume I of this report presents diagnostic load tests on the superstructure of the six bridges. The results of the diagnostic load tests were used to calibrate analytical models of the bridges for rating purposes. All of the bridges were independently rated by three rating agencies using a codified approach. Those ratings were then compared to ratings calculated using a bridge model calibrated to the actual response of the bridge due to the load test. The calibrated bridge model was then used to rate the bridges and determine whether an increase in the initial codified bridge ratings was feasible. Volume I of this report focuses on evaluating the superstructure for this family of bridges. This volume discusses the behavior characteristics that influence the load carrying capacity of this fleet of bridges. In particular, the live load distribution, partial composite action, and bearing restraint were investigated as potential …