Optimized ultra-high-performance concrete horizontally curved bridge superstructure

Abstract

Horizontally curved bridges have been mostly built with steel plate I-girders or tub girders. In the past 15 years, curved concrete girders have been successfully used in several states, including Nebraska, Colorado, and Flor­ida. This paper addresses the design of curved concrete girder bridges using ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) by combining state-of-the-art spliced girder technology and UHPC technology. It also proposes a number of unique features that result in further simplifi­cation of precast concrete production and construction. Critical design criteria are discussed. The system devel­opment of curved UHPC girder bridges and necessary construction steps are elaborated through a numerical example of a three-span bridge, which shows greatly reduced concrete quantities when compared with re­cently constructed curved concrete girders. With UHPC designed as proposed here, horizontally curved bridges are expected to be cost competitive with conventional concrete and more economical than structural steel.