Mid-Continent Transportation Symposium 2000 Proceedings

2000PDFProceedingsWipf, Terry J.Klaiber, F. WayneIowa State University. Center for Transportation Research and EducationIowa State University. Mid-America Transportation CenterUnited StatesBeamsComposite structuresConcrete bridgesBridge designSecondary roadsShear strengthSteel bridgesIn Iowa, there are over 20,000 bridges on the secondary system. The majority of these bridges are the responsibility of the local county engineers who, with limited budgets, frequently design and construct short span bridges with their own labor forces. The primary objective of the research presented in this paper is to perform laboratory testing on an alternative that counties can design and construct. This project involves testing and modifying a system of steel beams with concrete fill between them. This system has been used by several Iowa counties on low water stream crossings for more than 20 years. There is no reinforcing steel in this system or connection between the steel beams and the concrete. With the proposed modification which uses an alternate shear connector for composite action, less materials will be required and longer spans will be possible.131