Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of the Effect of Rail on the Behavior of Girder Bridges

Abstract

This paper experimentally and numerically evaluates the participation of bridge rail in carrying live load through (1) performing field testing on steel and prestressed concrete girder bridges; (2) developing validated finite-element numerical models; and (3) performing parametric numerical investigations. The focus is on composite, steel and prestressed concrete multigirder bridges with an intact reinforced concrete rail that is integral to the deck. Measured data indicate that rails participate in carrying the live load, that gaps in rail in the positive moment region increase the strain in exterior girders, and that composite behavior is not fully developed near abutments. The parametric study on two- and three-span continuous steel and prestressed concrete girder bridges indicated the effect of different rail sections on behavior, that a discontinuity in rail at piers has negligible impact on positive moment behavior, and that a skew (up to 30°) also has negligible impact on positive moment behavior. This paper culminates in recommendations to evaluate girder bridges considering rail participation.