A study of the structural characteristics of precast concrete channels for bridge decks

Abstract

On June 1, 1955 a research program to study design and economic criteria for precast bridge units was undertaken by the Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Missouri in cooperation with the Missouri State Highway Department and the Bureau of Public Roads. The primary purpose of this research project was to analyze typical sections under simulated loading conditions in order to determine both their behavior at nominal working loads and their ultimate capacities with respect to flexural or shear failures. It was further desired to study the behavior of a group of the precast structural units joined together to simulate a typical field installation. In order to accomplish these aims, a series of tests on full-scale and on half scale models of the standard precast bridge units presently utilized by the Missouri State Highway Department was undertaken. This report presents the results of these tests and the conclusions developed therefrom.