| This research investigates the effects of advanced analysis on the load distribution and rating of a skewed prestressed concrete bridge. The bridge was evaluated before and after rehabilitation, which included the replacement of the reinforced concrete deck, traffic barriers, and support bearings. Diagnostic load tests were performed on the original and rehabilitated bridge and representative finite- element models were developed. The effect of slab and support replacement on the bridge response is investigated as well as the effect of barrier replacement. In particular, the effects of various bridge elements and properties (typically ignored in design) are examined including the bearing and substructure stiffness; deck continuity between spans; and participation of barrier railings. The results of the study show that the girder moment decreases due to the benefits of skew, bearing stiffness, traffic barriers, and deck continuity between spans and thus, the corresponding load rating factors of the bridge improve. The research also provides a comparison between the application of the Load Factor Design (LFD) and Load and Resistance Factor (LRFD) methods. Finally, recommendations are made regarding the advanced analysis of prestressed concrete bridges. |
