A study on the design of the top flange of a modular T-girder bridge using the limit state design method

Abstract

This study involved applying a design code change on a modular bridge design. The top flange of a modular T-girder bridge was examined by the Korean Highway Bridge Design Code Limit State Design (2015) and was compared with the Korean Highway Bridge Design Code (2010) in terms of the stability under the bending moment. In addition, the cross-sectional height and reinforcement amount were re-designed to obtain a safety factor similar to the original code. The reinforcement arrangement and development of the transverse joints were examined in the section considered. The result indicated that the application of the Korean Highway Bridge Design Code Limit State Design (2015) increased the bending moment safety factor and decreased the width of the transverse joints. The results of the re-design with respect to a safety factor similar to that in the Korean Highway Bridge Design Code (2010) indicated that it was possible to reduce the cross-sectional height and reinforcement amount. Furthermore, based on the obtained section, the results revealed that the width of the transverse joints could be reduced by changing the arrangement of lap splices from the straight bar to the loop.