An experimental investigation of thermal prestressing method for continuous composite steel girder bridges

Abstract

This paper describes an experimental investigation conducted to verify and substantiate the preceding analytical study, which was focused on the development of the thermal prestressing method (TPSM) including the basic concepts of the method and the methodology for numerical analysis of the thermal prestressing effect. The experimental results from this research, especially the initial stress measurement from a prototype bridge, prove that the method can be successfully used for prestressing continuous composite girder structures. Also, the experimental and analytical results exhibit good agreement, which implies that the thermal prestressing effect can be predicted with reasonable accuracy with the previous proposed methodology. It is concluded that the TPSM can be successfully applied to both the design and construction of continuous composite girder structures, and the authors are optimistic about the TPSM becoming an innovative solution for prestressing continuous composite girder bridges.

Structural Behavior of a Long-Span Partially Earth-Anchored Cable-Stayed Bridge during Installation of a Key Segment by Thermal Prestressing

“…However, there have been recent studies on the thermal prestressing method (TPSM) indicating constructive uses of the thermal effect [7,8]. The basic concept of the thermal prestressing method is to convert the elastic deformation energy accumulated from temporary thermal deflection into a prestressing force for a structural system.…”

State of the art on the time-dependent behaviour of composite steel–concrete structures

“…This is achieved by means of the clamping force induced by the tendons to the concrete which are installed either in the slab, in the case of internal prestressing, or to the bottom steel section, for external prestressing. The latter is particularly suitable for retrofitting operations [122][123][124][125][126].…”