An effective, viable design solution for the elevated viaduct guideway for Universal Freight Shuttle (UFS) system championed by Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) is presented. The proposed precast elevated UFS bridge system is analyzed for the operational vehicular loading as provided by TTI and a number of design alternatives for the various bridge components are provided. This includes: the design of the fully precast deck panels for long continuous spans, design of the shear connectors resisting interface shear at bridge deck-girder interface, design of structurally efficient and cost-effective trough girders and its design alternative with I-girders, and economic and long-term serviceable design of bridge piers. A literature review and study of the existing precast bridges is presented for the state-of-the-art and practice, design specifications and publications by AASHTO, State Department of Transportation and other agencies. These existing systems are refined to determine the most appropriate specification for the proposed bridge components by integrating the planning, design, fabrication and construction techniques to ensure high precision freight shuttle movement, construction feasibility, safety, life-cycle cost, durability and serviceability requirements. The design concept presented is a deviation from the conventional railways and highways design. The best practices and specifications of AASHTO and AREMA are combined suitably in this research to suit the major requirements of the project. A combination of the design philosophy with appropriate construction techniques has been blended to devise a system which is efficient for offsite manufacture of components for construction of the bridge and adaptable to the different bridge configurations. Based on the design results, it is found that precast concrete deck panels in combination with precast, prestressed concrete trough girders provides the most efficient superstructure solution for this project. The Damage Avoidance Design for the precast bridge piers along with the precast superstructure provides a system with comparable structural performance along with other benefits such as long term serviceability, economical sections, practically transportable units, modular simplicity for relocation as desired and ability to offer space for commercial usage. The steps for construction of the bridge is schematically presented and sequentially explained.

Motivated by Robert Mast's original papers on lifting stability, this research study provides a method for predicting beam behavior during lifting, with application in the construction of bridges. A beam lifting cracking limit state is developed based on analytical equations for calculating the roll angle of the beam, the internal forces and moments, the weak-axis and strong-axis deflections, and the cross-sectional angle of twist. Finite element simulations are performed to investigate the behavior of concrete beams during lifting and to validate the proposed method. Additionally, a statistical characterization of beam imperfections is presented, based on recently conducted field measurements of beam lateral sweep and eccentricity of lift supports. Finally, numerical examples for two typical precast prestressed concrete beam cross-sections are included to demonstrate the proposed method. / Master of Science

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a new, innovative construction material that can be placed into forms without the need for mechanical vibration. The mixture proportions are critical for producing quality SCC and require an optimized combination of coarse and fine aggregates, cement, water, and chemical and mineral admixtures. The required mixture constituents and proportions may affect the mechanical properties, bond characteristics, and long-term behavior, and SCC may not provide the same inservice performance as conventional concrete (CC). Different SCC mixture constituents and proportions were evaluated for mechanical properties, shear characteristics, bond characteristics, creep, and durability. Variables evaluated included mixture type (CC or SCC), coarse aggregate type (river gravel or limestone), and coarse aggregate volume. To correlate these results with full-scale samples and investigate structural behavior related to strand bond properties, four girder-deck systems, 40 ft (12 m) long, with CC and SCC pretensioned girders were fabricated and tested. Results from the research indicate that the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Load and Resistance Factor Design (AASHTO LRFD) Specifications can be used to estimate the mechanical properties of SCC for a concrete compressive strength range of 5 to 10 ksi (34 to 70 MPa). In addition, the research team developed prediction equations for concrete compressive strength ranges from 5 to 16 ksi (34 to 110 MPa). With respect to shear characteristics, a more appropriate expression is proposed to estimate the concrete shear strength for CC and SCC girders with a compressive strength greater than 10 ksi (70 MPa). The author found that girder-deck systems with Type A SCC girders exhibit similar flexural performance as deck-systems with CC girders. The AASHTO LRFD (2006) equations for computing the cracking moment, nominal moment, transfer length, development length, and prestress losses may be used for SCC girder-deck systems similar to those tested in this study. For environments exhibiting freeze-thaw cycles, a minimum 16-hour release strength of 7 ksi (48 MPa) is recommended for SCC mixtures.

Precast, prestressed concrete panels (PCPs) have been widely used in Texas as stay-in-place formwork in bridge deck construction. Although PCPs are widely popular and extensively used, Texas is experiencing problems with collinear cracks (cracks along the strands) in panels. One reason for the formation of collinear cracks is thought to be the required level of initial prestress. Currently, PCPs are designed assuming a 45-ksi, lump-sum prestress loss. If the prestress losses are demonstrated to be lower than this value, this could justify the use of a lower initial prestress, probably resulting in fewer collinear cracks. For this purpose, 20 precast, prestressed panels were cast at two different plants. Half of those 20 panels were fabricated with the current TxDOT-required prestress of 16.1 kips per strand, and the other half were fabricated with a lower prestress of 14.4 kips per strand based on initially observed prestress losses of 25 ksi or less. Thirteen of those panels were instrumented with strain gages and monitored over their life time. Observed losses stabilized after five months, and are found to be about 24.4 ksi. Even with the reduced initial prestress, the remaining prestress in all panels exceeds the value now assumed by TxDOT for design. / text

Orientador: Vladimir Antonio Paulon / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T11:14:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PregeliNeto_Antonio_M.pdf: 3909884 bytes, checksum: 410b6d25a48bfd9306620ba57294b3d0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: A aplicação de modelos de gestão na construção civil se mostra uma tendência, buscando minimizar riscos em empreendimentos e criar um diferencial competitivo. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver e implantar um modelo de gestão para confecção de vigas pré-moldadas, verificando possíveis ganhos em termos de custo, prazo e qualidade. A metodologia adotada foi o estudo de caso, nas obras de uma ponte. O modelo de gestão desenvolvido dividiu a gestão do empreendimento em três áreas de atuação, sendo Gestão de Engenharia, Gestão de Suprimentos e a Gestão de Recursos. Na Gestão de Engenharia observou-se o parcial atendimento às expectativas no macro planejamento e na metodologia de gestão de informações, no controle de projetos; já as metodologias construtivas mostraram-se adequadas, a exceção da cura e do transporte das vigas; na gestão da segurança do trabalho e meio ambiente mostrou-se eficiente a localização de riscos, porém ineficiente o controle de acidentes de trabalho. A Gestão de Suprimentos foi eficiente no controle de custos, embora partes das análises tenham sido prejudicadas dada a escolha equivocada de alguns dos coletores de custo; no processo de contratação e compras os indicadores adotados se mostraram superficiais para a avaliação de desempenho. A Gestão de Recursos teve um bom desempenho, refletido nos índices de custos. Em geral, o empreendimento mostrou que os indicadores adotados para a avaliação do desempenho do modelo de gestão apontam um rendimento satisfatório para tempo e custo, e não conclusivo na qualidade. Concluiu-se que, embora não se possa afirmar que a aplicação do modelo de gestão fora o único responsável pelo sucesso parcial do empreendimento, certamente este contribuiu significativamente para tal. / Abstract: The application of management models in the civil construction is a new trend which searches to minimize risks in workmanships and to create a competitive differential. In this context, the objective of the present work was to develop and to implant a model of management for confection of precast prestressed beams, verifying possible improvements in costs, schedule and quality. The adopted methodology was the case study, in a bridge workmanship. The developed model of management divided the enterprise in three areas of performance, being Management of Engineering, Supply Management and Management of Resources. The Management of Engineering had a partial attendance to the expectations in the macro planning, the methodology of management of information was observed, in the control of projects; the constructive methodologies was adequate, in exception of the curing and the transport of the beams; the management of the work security and environment was efficient in the control of industrial accidents but inefficient to localize risks. The Supply Management was efficient in cost control, but parts of the analyses were harmed because of a mistake in the choice of some cost collectors; in the purchase process the pointers were superficial for the performance evaluation. The Management of Resources had a good performance, reflected in costs. In general, this job showed that the adopted pointers for the performance evaluation of the management model were satisfactory considering time and cost, but not conclusive in the quality. The conclusion is it cannot affirm that the application of the management model is the responsible one for the partial success of the workmanship, certainly this contributed significantly for such. / Mestrado / Edificações / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

Šiame darbe nagrinėjama standžių sujungimo mazgų įrengimo įtaka iš anksto įtemptų surenkamų gelžbetoninių sijų laikomajai galiai ir įlinkiams. Laikomosios galios analizės metu nagrinėjama sijų ribinės apkrovos ir tempiamos zonos armatūros kiekio priklausomybė nuo standžiai jungčiai įrengti naudojamos jungiamosios armatūros skerspjūvio ploto ir betono klasės. Sijų įlinkių analizės metu nagrinėjama, kiek galima sumažinti sijų įlinkius, skerspjūvio aukštį ar padidinti tarpatramio ilgį įrengus standžias jungtis. Taip pat atliekama standaus mazgo apspaudimo įtakos sijų įlinkiams analizė. Remiantis moksliniais straipsniais ir mokomosiomis knygomis nagrinėjami įvairūs standaus mazgo įrengimo konstrukciniai sprendiniai bei kontinualių sijų įrąžų ir įlinkių skaičiavimo metodai. Standžios jungties įtempių ir deformacijų būvis tiriamas baigtinių elementų metodu naudojant kompiuterinę statybinių konstrukcijų skaičiavimo programą LUSAS Analyst. Atlikus iš anksto įtemptų surenkamųjų gelžbetoninių sijų, sujungtų tarpusavyje standžiu mazgu, darbo analizę pateikiamos baigiamojo magistro darbo išvados ir pasiūlymai. Darbą sudaro 8 dalys: įvadas, standžių mazgų įrengimo ypatumai ir konstrukcinai sprendiniai, kontinualių sijų įrąžų ir įlinkių skaičiavimo metodai, standžių mazgų įrengimo įtakos sijų laikomajai galiai analizė, standžių mazgų įrengimo įtakos sijų įlinkiams analizė, standaus mazgo analizė baigtinių elementų metodu, išvados ir pasiūlymai, literatūros sąrašas. Darbo apimtis –... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The paper investigates precast prestressed beams and increase of their carrying capacity and decrease of deflections by providing rigid connections between adjascent spans. The analysis of carrying capacity includes relations between load capacity (herewith the sectional area of tensile reinforcement) and material properties of rigid connection, such as sectional area of continuity reinforcement and concrete grade. The analaysis of deflections investigates the reduction of beam height and increase of span length by providing moment continuity between adjascent spans. The effects of prestressing rigid connection is also discussed. Various moment continuity provision methods are reviewed. The stress-strain state of rigid connection is analysed by using finite element method. The conclutions and suggestions are made at the end of the thesis. The master thesis includes these parts: introduction, analysis of moment continuity provision methods, review of moment redistribution and deflection calculation methods, analysis of increased load carrying capacity after provision of moment continuity, analysis of decreased deflections after provision of moment continuity, rigid connection analysis using finite element method, conclusions and suggestions, references. Master thesis consists of – 77 p. text without appendixes, 24 pictures, 16 tables, 15 bibliographical entries.

Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) has gained substantial popularity in new bridge construction and bridge deck replacement because it offers innovative construction techniques that result in time and cost savings when compared to traditional bridge construction practice. One technology commonly implemented in ABC to effectively execute its projects is the use of prefabricated bridge components (precast/prestressed bridge components). Precast/prestressed bridge components are fabricated offsite or near the site and then connected on-site using small volume closure pour connections. Diaphragms are also commonly used to strengthen the connection between certain prefabricated components used in ABC, such as beam elements. Bridges containing closure pour connections and diaphragms can be designed using AASHTO LRFD live-load distribution factor formulas under the condition that the bridge must be sufficiently connected. However, these formulas were developed using analytical models that did not account for the effects of closure pours and diaphragms on live-load distribution. This research study investigates live-load distribution characteristics of precast/prestressed concrete bridges with closure pour connections and diaphragms. The investigation was conducted using finite element bridge models with closure pour joints that were calibrated using experimental data and different configuration of diaphragms. The concrete material used for the closure pour connections was developed as part of a larger project intended to develop high early-strength concrete mixtures that specifically reach strength in only 12 hours, a critical requirement for ABC projects.