Computer aided prestressed girder bridge deck design

Abstract

This paper describes the main features of a system for designing single span bridge decks formed by prestressed girders that are joined by a top slab. This type of bridge deck can be mounted speedily and economically for medium span isostatic bridges. The plan of the bridge may be any quadrilateral (non-parallel support lines and non-parallel edges). Girders may be either I or box shaped. The system can be used to design road or rail bridges. The designer probides the system with the minimum necessary data and the system returns, in numerical and graphical form, the data and results of the structural analysis, the calculation of the prestressing cables and all the detailing of the girders and top slab.