Bridges built with adjacent precast, prestressed concrete box beams are a popular and economical solution in many states because they can be constructed rapidly and most deck forming is eliminated. Bridges constructed with box beams have been in service for many years and have generally performed well. A recurring problem, however, is cracking in the longitudinal grouted joints between adjacent beams, resulting in reflective cracks forming in the wearing surface. This in turn may lead to leakage, corrosion, and, in severe cases, complete cracking of joints and loss of load transfer. This study discusses current design and construction practices that are reported to reduce the likelihood of longitudinal cracking in box beam bridges. Information for the study was gathered through a literature review. In addition, state and Canadian provincial transportation agencies were surveyed, and the survey was augmented with selected individual interviews. (Author/publisher)
Abstract