Simplified Analysis Method for Slab-on-Girder Highway Bridge Decks

It has been observed from test and analysis results that the differential deflection between girders in a slab-on-girder bridge deck reduces the negative bending moments in the deck slab. A simplified analysis method considering the effect of girder deflection is developed, based on an analytical solution obtained with the elastic plate theory. With this approach, the effects of the girder stiffness and spacing, and the span length of the bridge on the maximum negative bending moments in a deck slab can be assessed. The simplified analysis method is validated with finite-element models. It has been shown that the maximum negative bending moment in a bridge deck can be accurately evaluated with the proposed method.