Abstract
dc:description.abstractConcrete bridge rails are rated according to three performance levels. For classification at a given performance level, the rail must meet specific strength and geometric requirements. To meet the strength requirement, the rail must be able to satisfactorily withstand a transverse concentrated load applied at the top of the rail. This load is called F<sub>t</sub> (kips) and is listed for each performance level in the Draft NCHRP Project 12-33 document entitled Development of a Comprehensive Bridge Specification and Commentary. Researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute have developed equations to determine R<sub>w</sub> (kips), the total transverse resistance of a rail (which must be greater than or equal to F<sub>t</sub>), and L<sub>c</sub> (ft), the critical length of wall failure (Hirsch 1978). These equations (referred to as Hirsch equations is this study) were developed by yield line analysis for a constant thickness concrete parapet wall. The purpose of this study is to develop similar equations for R<sub>w</sub> and L<sub>c</sub> based on yield line analysis of a variable thickness New Jersey concrete parapet wall instead of a constant thickness wall. The results from this study indicate that the Hirsch equations significantly over estimate R<sub>w</sub> for variable thickness concrete walls where M<sub>c</sub>, the flexural resistance of the wall about the horizontal axis, varies substantially over the height of the wall. This study recommends that an average value for M<sub>c</sub>, taken over the height of the wall, be used in the Hirsch equations when this situation arises.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Civil Engineering
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Civil Engineering
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 1993
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Calloway, Benita R.
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Barker, Richard M.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Holzer, Siegfried M.
- Garst, Donald A.
Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
- Language dc:language.iso
- en
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-09052009-040731
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/34936