Investigation into the temperature creep effects on the design of concrete bridge decks.

The aim of the work in this thesis is to investigate the combined effects of differential temperature and creep on the behaviour of concrete bridge decks. A method of analysis is developed which can be used to investigate the effect of the creep-temperature mechanism on the redistribution of stresses within a prestressed concrete deck. The method is based on past experimental work and existing theories which are reviewed in the thesis. The developed method of analysis is then used to study the effect of the creep-temperature mechanism on the following: 1. Two span continuous prestressed concrete deck under the action of a constant temperature gradient. Three types of deck are investigated: solid slab, cellular slab and T-section. 2. Two span continuous prestressed solid slab deck under the action of cyclic temperature gradient. 3. A skew simply supported prestressed solid slab deck under the action of a constant temperature gradient. Finally, general conclusions and recommendations for design are given in the last Chapter