Date of Award
8-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Civil Engineering
Committee Chair/Advisor
Brandon E. Ross
Committee Member
Thomas E. Cousins
Committee Member
Michael W. Stoner
Abstract
This thesis investigates the strength of prestressed concrete channel girders used
in bridges in South Carolina and how to improve their load distribution. The specimens
are 30 feet in length, 33 inches wide and 17 inches deep. South Carolina has 377 bridges
containing prestressed concrete channel girders and many of these bridges received a
poor load rating in a recent load rating project conducted by the South Carolina
Department of Transportation (SCDOT). The research included flexural testing of seven
individual channel girders and load distribution tests of three transversely post-tensioned
channel girders. Individual flexural testing was done to determine the moment capacity
of channel girders that were extracted from out of service bridges and load distribution
testing was done to determine if transverse post-tensioning was a promising method of
improving transverse load distribution. Increasing load distribution would lower moment
demand on an individual girder and therefore increase load ratings. From the lab testing,
the girders in good condition were found to be stronger than calculated, but girders in
poor condition were weaker than the calculated flexural strength. The load distribution
tests also produced good results with transverse post-tensioning improving load
distribution. The outcomes of these tests can be used to reevaluate the results of load
ratings of channel girder bridges in the field and possibly implement the solution of
transverse post-tensioning.
Recommended Citation
Eubanks, William, "Effect of Transverse Post-Tensioning on Moment Distribution Between Channel Girders" (2023). All Theses. 4108.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/4108