90

Beam-and-slab decks
concrete slab. The grillage model has one longitudinal beam to each two
prototype beams. While sufficient transverse members are provided for
detailed analysis, their precise positions are chosen so that they intersect
support beams at the same points as longitudinal beams. The skew of
the grillage, but not the span, differs slightly from that of the prototype
to make the mesh regular. (Such expediency greatly reduces the risk of
human errors in calculations and thus is likely to improve the accuracy
of analysis.)
The longitudinal members are calculated for sections in Fig. 4.7(c)
assuming full concrete areas effective, but with in situ slab transformed

by modular ratio m = 0.85 of Young's moduli for in situ and prestressed

concrete.

fx l = 0.24

fx2 = 0.174

The torsion constants are calculated separately for the 'beam' and 'slab'
parts of each member and added to give
Cx l = 2 X 0.004 +
C

x2 =

2 X 0.004 +

2 0 X 022 X 085
+ 0.006 = 0.016
6
3
2 0
0 2
X 0.85
X
6

0.010

The percentage area of reinforcement spanning transversely in such a

slab is usually quite high and the inertia calculated on the transformed
cracked section does not differ very much from the inertia calculated on
the uncracked section ignoring reinforcement. Consequently, since
initially the area of reinforcement is not known, the inertia is calculated
on the uncracked section with m = 0.85. Transverse grillage members

then have
fy

3
40 X 02
12

0.85

0.00 23

Cy

3
40 X 02 X
0.85 = 0.0045.
6

The torsion constant of the cracked concrete is likely to be in error by

an unknown amount, but here has little effect.
The percentage area of reinforcement in the support diaphragm is
low, and so the inertia is calculated on the transformed cracked section,
with the effect of slab as flange ignored. The torsion constant of such a
beam is also very low, as it is not prestressed and it is made up of
discontinuous sections of in situ concrete and precast beam web.
C
is

Without relevant experimental evidence, it is suggested that

calculated for the area of uncracked concrete used in calculating /.

A complete worked example for a composite prestressed concrete

beam bridge is included in references (3] and (4]; and further advice on
the design of such decks is included in references [ 5] and [6].

Grillage examples
Fig. 4.8 (a) Cross
section of composite
steeUconcrete deck and
of grillage and
(b) section represented
by longitudinal grillage
member.

!al

91

2 2

..l.
(b)
4.5.2 Spaced steel 1-beams with reinforced concrete slab

Figure 4.8 shows part of a composite deck constructed of reinforced

concrete slab on steel beams. Longitudinal grillage members are placed
coincident with the centre lines of steel beams, and each represents the
part of the deck section shown in (b). Using modular ratio m= 7 for
steel (short-term loading) we obtain
fx = 0.21
ex

2 2 X 0 23
0.000 031 X 7 +
6

0.0032.

The slab is similar to that in Fig. 4.7 so that transverse grillage

member properties are calculated in the same way.
Complete worked examples for composite steel beam bridges are
included in references [7] and [8], and further advice on the design of
such decks is included in references [9] and [10].

4.5.3 Spaced box beam with slab deck

Figure 4.9 shows the cross-section of a beam-and-slab deck constructed

of spaced prestressed precast concrete box beams supporting a

reinforced concrete slab. Longitudinal grillage members are placed
coincident with centre lines of beams, with additional 'nominal'
members running along centre lines of slab strips.
The section properties of the nominal members are calculated for
width of slab to midway to neighbouring beams, hence
fx

1.4 X

3
025
12

= 0.0018

ex =

3
1.4 X 025
6

= 0 .0036.

The properties of the beam members are calculated for the sections
with flanges including the area in nominal members (unless shear lag has