Recommendations for the Use of Precast Deck Panels at Expansion Joints

摘要

Prestressed concrete panels have been used by the bridge construction industry in the state of Texas for many years to increase construction speed and improve safety and economy. At expansion joints, cast-in-place concrete is used and requires temporary formwork and slows construction. In a previous TxDOT project (0-4418), a fullscale bridge deck was constructed that included precast panels at a 0 degrees skew. In this investigation (TxDOT Project 0-5367) two areas not covered in Project 0-4418 were studied: fatigue performance of bridge decks using precast panels at the expansion joints and the use of precast panels at skewed expansion joints. Skewed precast panels at expansion joints were tested under static and fatigue loads. Two skew angles were tested: 30 degrees and 45 degrees. Six specimens were constructed and subjected to a total of eleven tests. Loads were applied at midspan of the skewed end of each specimen, and some specimens were also loaded at joint between trapezoidal (skewed) panels and an adjacent rectangular panel. The skewed panels performed well. Design recommendations for implementation of skewed panels were developed.