Optimized ultra-high-performance concrete horizontally curved bridge superstructure

摘要

Horizontally curved bridges have been mostly built with steel plate I-girders or tub girders. In the past 15 years, curved concrete girders have been successfully used in several states, including Nebraska, Colorado, and Florida. This paper addresses the design of curved concrete girder bridges using ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) by combining state-of-the-art spliced girder technology and UHPC technology. It also proposes a number of unique features that result in further simplification of precast concrete production and construction. Critical design criteria are discussed. The system development of curved UHPC girder bridges and necessary construction steps are elaborated through a numerical example of a three-span bridge, which shows greatly reduced concrete quantities when compared with recently constructed curved concrete girders. With UHPC designed as proposed here, horizontally curved bridges are expected to be cost competitive with conventional concrete and more economical than structural steel.