Precast concrete bridge structure and associated rapid assembly methods

摘要

A pier and beam bridge structure is formed essentially entirely from steel reinforced, precast concrete elements including elongated, hollow tubular pier members, pier collars, pier base and cap beams, deck beams, deck slabs and side railing members. In forming the support pier structures, the pier members are inserted into dry-drilled pier base excavations through opposite end openings formed in the ground- supported base beams, and are outwardly circumscribed by the collars which are received at their opposite ends in the base beam end openings and openings in the cap beams which are supported at the upper pier ends. A loose aggregate material is dumped into the pier member interiors, and the annular collar and excavation spaces surrounding the pier members. Polymer concrete is then forced downwardly through the pier member interiors, and upwardly through these annular spaces, and cures in a matter of minutes to complete the fabrication of each pier structure. The precast deck beams, deck slabs and railing members are then sequentially installed and rapidly interconnected using hollow connecting pin members inserted into aligned openings formed in abutting concrete surfaces and grouted into place using a quick-setting polymer concrete.