Simple for Dead, Continuous for Live Load Steel Superstructures

Details

• Creators:
  Derner, Jon ; Rothwell, Simon ; Ruether, Caleigh ; Giraldo-Londoño, Oliver ; Orton, Sarah ; Batmunkh, Anar
• Corporate Creators:
  Horner & Shifrin, Inc. ; University of Missouri--Columbia
• Corporate Contributors:
  Missouri. Department of Transportation. Construction and Materials Division ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Static loads
  • Finite element method
  • Bridges
  • Design methods
  • Guidelines
  • Steel structures
  • Literature reviews
  • Field tests
  • Bridge construction
  • Bridge decks
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  cmr 26-011
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Missouri
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  Missouri. Department of Transportation. Construction and Materials Division
• Description:
  This report documents research conducted to support the development of design guidance and standard details for Simple for Dead Load, Continuous for Live Load (SDCL) steel superstructures in Missouri. The research evaluated the dead- and live-load behavior of SDCL steel bridges through a literature review, field testing of Bridge A9513, finite element modeling, degree-of-continuity (DOC) evaluations, and development of MoDOT Engineering Policy Guide provisions. The test bridge developed measurable continuity during deck placement, with construction-stage DOC values ranging from approximately 23% to 42%, indicating that it did not behave as a purely simple-span system during deck casting. After completion, the bridge developed a live-load DOC of approximately 92%. Parametric analyses showed that the proposed deck reinforcement and compression block details remained well below yield limits under factored superimposed dead and HL-93 live loading while providing substantial live-load continuity across multiple bridge geometries. Recommendations include using staged analysis, treating the intermediate bent as the critical force transfer region, considering pinned diaphragms and bond breaker plates to reduce dead-load continuity during deck placement, and refining MoDOT's SDCL guidance as additional field data become available.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  TR202505
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/93894/dot_93894_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 17.50 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9b65c3f446abfb4b535bc175f0f6fe1d19bdaee404b923e4fd0b4a5f3f7dcdca194e09ee70a0394f852b0d64ebcb60ff05100975d5434ffd7c036b55f3ed6928