Cases of failure of bridge structures during the process of pre-stressing

Juliusz Cieśla; Mirosław Biskup; Łukasz Topczewski; Marian Skawiński

doi:10.7409/rabdim.017.002

Published: 2017-03-28

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2017)

Cases of failure of bridge structures during the process of pre-stressing

Juliusz Cieśla , Mirosław Biskup , Łukasz Topczewski , Marian Skawiński

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.017.002

Abstract

The paper describes two typical cases of failure of pre-stressing cables during the construction of concrete bridges in Poland. In both cases failure occurred during the tensioning of cables and consisted of the sudden loosening of the cables as well as a destruction of the concrete in the zone under the curvilinear section of a cable. Based on a review of documentation, especially the drawings of zones of failures, and also finite element analysis, it can be concluded that the structure did not have enough reinforcement bars to transfer the tensile forces occurring on the inner curvature of the cables. Therefore, the tensile stresses occurring in these places were only transferred by the concrete. This is contrary to the basic principle of reinforced concrete, which states that tensile forces should be transferred by the reinforcement and compressive forces should be withstood by concrete.

Keywords:

concrete bridges, execution, failures, pre-stressing cables.

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Cieśla, J., Biskup, M., Topczewski, Łukasz, & Skawiński, M. (2017). Cases of failure of bridge structures during the process of pre-stressing. Roads and Bridges – Drogi I Mosty, 16(1), 15–35. https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.017.002

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Juliusz Cieśla

jciesla@ibdim.edu.pl

Affiliation:

Road and Bridge Research Institute, Instytutowa 1, 03-302 Warsaw, Poland

Mirosław Biskup

Affiliation:

Road and Bridge Research Institute, Kielce Branch, ul. Chorzowska 28, 25-401 Kielce, Poland

Łukasz Topczewski

Affiliation:

Road and Bridge Research Institute, Instytutowa 1, 03-302 Warsaw, Poland

Marian Skawiński

Affiliation:

Road and Bridge Research Institute, Kielce Branch, ul. Chorzowska 28, 25-401 Kielce, Poland

Cases of failure of bridge structures during the process of pre-stressing

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Keywords:

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