Effect of Horizontal Curvature on Prestressed Concrete Rectangular and Trapezoidal Box Girder

Abstract

Bridge is a key element in any transportation system which provides easy access over physical obstacles like road, valley, water bodies etc. without closing the way underneath. Recently, horizontally curved box girder bridges are widely used to overcome congested tra c problems and meet complex road alignments. In this study, analysis of a two cell post-tensioned rectangular and trapezoidal box girder bridges is carried out by varying radii of curvature (0m, 50m, 75m, 100m, and 125m) using nite element-based software (MIDAS). Finite element models are developed for both bridges and for all radii of curvatures keeping material prop- erties, span, boundary conditions and tendon pro les as constant parameters. All these models are analyzed for self-weight, including load of wearing coat and crash barrier, and live loads speci ed by Indian Road Congress (IRC) namely IRC 70R and IRC Class A loading