Bridge Instrumentation and the Development of Non-Destructive and Destructive Techniques Used to Estimate Residual Tendon Stress in Prestressed Girders

Author

Brian Michael Kukay, Utah State University

Date of Award:

5-2008

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Paul J. Barr

Committee

Paul J. Barr

Committee

Kevin C. Womack

Committee

Marvin W. Halling

Committee

Joseph A. Caliendo

Committee

Todd K. Moon

Abstract

This research embodied a three-prong approach for directly determining the residual prestress force of prestressed concrete bridge girders. For bridges that have yet to be constructed, outfitting girders with instrumentation is a highly effective means of determining residual prestress force in prestressed concrete bridge girders. This constitutes the first prong. Still, many bridges are constructed without such instrumentation. For these bridges, a destructive technique can be used to directly determine the residual prestress in a prestressed concrete bridge girder. This implies that the girder(s) being tested have already been taken out of service. This constitutes the second prong.

For bridges that are anticipated to remain in service that are lacking embedded instrumentation, the development of a non-destructive technique used to estimate the remaining force in the tendons of prestressed bridge girders is extremely important. This constitutes the third prong used to directly determine residual prestress force. The flexural capacity was also determined from field tests and compared to analytical estimates. By design, the code estimates are meant to be conservative. Alternatively, the residual prestress force for in-service members can be determined directly through the non-destructive technique presented in this research. As such, bridge service capacities can be determined directly and do not need to be conservatively estimated.

Checksum

72036c8b60fa2f28b3eaef3ee30e1da9

Comments

Release of work delayed for one year.

Recommended Citation

Kukay, Brian Michael, "Bridge Instrumentation and the Development of Non-Destructive and Destructive Techniques Used to Estimate Residual Tendon Stress in Prestressed Girders" (2008). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 128.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/128