Abstract

"In the Fall of 1951, as a result of an agreement between the Portland Cement Association and the Missouri State Highway Department, with the approval and good wishes of the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Public Roads, the State Highway Department embarked on a program to design and construct several precast, prestressed, and precast-prestressed concrete highway bridges"--Introduction, page 1.

The purpose of this extensive program being to indicate to State Highway officials and other interested parties the advantages of these types of construction. In the words of Mr. S. W. O'Brien, District Engineer for the Bureau of Public Roads, "The use of a precast deck (girder) would begin a practice that may lead to worthwhile economies in secondary bridges of short spans."

The two primary advantages of small precast concrete highway bridges are (1) the contractors could form and cast the girders at a time and a site that was convenient to their labor, equipment, and material supplies, and (2) they require a much shorter construction period.

The first advantage mentioned above would allow the contractor to form and cast the girders during his otherwise slack season at an economical location. He would thereby have an increased annual volume of business and a more stable and experienced staff of employees on his payroll.

The second advantage mentioned would eliminate long delays in getting the structure open to traffic.

Both advantages indicate a big saving in time, labor, money, and material to the contractor, most of which will unquestionably be reflected back to the State Highway Department.

The difficulty with this type of design is in finding an economical girder section. The most desirable girder section is one in which the design stresses for both the concrete and the reinforcing steel are approaching their maximum allowable stresses. In attempting to find a desirable section, the allowable design stresses for concrete were varied from 1000 pounds per square inch to 1500 pounds per square inch, while the design stress for reinforcing steel remained constant at 18,000 pounds per square inch"--Abstract, pages 1-2.

Advisor(s)

Carlton, E. W.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

Professional Degree in Civil Engineering

Publisher

Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy

Publication Date

1954

Pagination

vii, 97 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (page 95).

Rights

© 1954 Robert V. Gevecker, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Concrete bridges -- Design and constructionPrestressed concrete bridges -- Design and construction

Thesis Number

T 1065

Print OCLC #

9526668

Electronic OCLC #

946963589

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