RC SLAB BRIDGE DESIGN

• Introduction
• The RC solid slab (Culvert) is generally used for small spans.
• A deck slab bridge is the simplest type of construction ,adopted mostly for small bridges and
culverts.
• This type of super structure is economical up to spans of 8 m for larger spans PSC slab decks
are economical since depth can be reduced
• The span should not exceed 8 m for the bridge in order to be built at minimum cost.
• Though the thickness of the slab will be considerably high, its construction is simpler and the
cost of the form work is also less.

• Generally in culverts , the deck slab is supported on the two opposite sides of piers and

abutments

• The deck slab is designed as a one way Slab to support the dead load and live load with

IMPA CT
 Wheel loads on the SLAB
• The Deck slab is designed for the worst effect of either IRC Class AA tracked vehicle loading or
IRC Class A load Train

• Base on the analytical investigations the use of IRC Class AA wheeled vehicle for the spans up
to 4m and

• IRC Class AA tracked vehicle for the spans greater than 4m is done for computations of
max. Live load moments in the case of one way slabs

• For the computations of max. Live load shear in two lane bridge decks Class AA tracked
vehicle should be sued for spans from 1 to 8 m

• In the case of RC Tee Beam and slab decks, the slab spans in two directions since it is
supported on the main and cross girders at regular intervals, hence the slab is designed as a
TWO way slab for the wheel loads
 Wheel loads on the SLAB
• A wheel load is practically considered as a concentrated load on the slab (supporting media).

• This load will get dispersed with its effects along span wise and width wise directions.

• Thus, the load will get distributed along a particular length (span wise) and width (width
wise) of the slab.

• There are three methods available for analysis of slabs subjected to concentrated loads.

1. Effective width method.

2.Piegeaud’s coefficient method.

3.Westergaards method.

• The first method is applicable to one way slabs which are supported on two opposite edges .

• The second method is used for two way slabs which are supported on all four edges.

• Westergaards method is cumbersome and therefore rarely adopted for slab design.
 Effective Width Method

• This method is applicable where one way action prevails.

• For this, the slab needs to be supported on only two edges, however, a very long slab may be
supported on all four edges.

• This method is based on the observation that, it is not only the strip of the slab immediately
below the load that participates in taking the load but also certain width of the slab.

• This width of the slab over which the action of the load prevails is known as the effective
width of dispersion.

• The extent of the effective width depends on the location of the wheel load with reference to
support and dimensions of the slab.

• Thus, the concentrated load virtually transforms into a uniformly distributed load –
distributed along some length (dispersed length along the slab ) and width ( effective width).
 Effective Width of Dispersion
• The IRC 21 recommends formulae for computing the effective width for two types
of slabs, namely
• Simply supported slabs (supported on opposite edges)
• Cantilever slabs

• Slab Supported on Two Edges ( Simply Supported Slabs)

• For the slab supported on two edges and carrying concentrated loads, the max.
live load bending moment is calculated by considering the effective width of the
slab.
• This effective width also called the effective width of the slab.
• This effective width also called the effective width of dispersion is measured
parallel to the supporting edges of the slab.
 Effective Width of Dispersion
• The effective width of dispersion can be estimated by using the following formula :
•

• bef = α x ( 1-(x/L)) + b1
•
• where
• bef = width of the slab over which the load is effective.
• L = effective span of the simply supported slab ( clear span in case of continuous slabs)
• x = distance of the centre of gravity of the concentrated load from the nearest support.

• α = a constant having values depending on B/L values ( Appended in Table 7.1)

• b1 = Width of the dispersion area of the wheel load on the slab through the wearing
coat. This is given by (w+2h), where h is the thickness of the wearing coat, w is the
contact width of the wheel on the slab perpendicular to the direction of
movement.
 Dispersion length
• It is obvious that the maximum value of the effective width will be equal to the width of the
slab.
• For two or more concentrated loads in a line, in the direction of the span, the net effective
width should be calculated.
• A closer view of this width along span and across span is shown in figure.
• Dispersion Length
• Dispersion of the wheel load along the span is known as the effective length of dispersion.
• It is also called the dispersion length.
• It can be calculated as shown below:
•
• Dispersion length = Length of the tyre contact + (2 x overall thickness of
• the deck including the thickness of the wearing coat)
• The other design particulars of the slab like the longitudinal reinforcement, distribution

reinforcement ,cover requirements etc are listed in IRC 21-2000 .

 REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB BRIDGE DECKS
Design Example
• Design a reinforced concrete slab culvert for a National highway to suit the
following data:
• Carriageway - Two lane (7.5m wide)
• Foot paths - 1m on either side
• Clear span = 6m
• Wearing coat = 80 mm
• Materials - M-25 Grade concrete and Fe-415 Grade HYSD bars
• Loading-IRC Class AA tracked vehicle
• Design the R.C. deck slab and sketch the details of reinforcements in the
Longitudinal and Cross section of slab.
 DESIGN OF RC SLAB BRIDGE
1. Data

• Clear span = 6m

• Width of bearing = 0.4m

• IRC Class AA tracked vehicle loading

• M-25 Grade concrete and Fe-415 Grade HYSD bars

2.Permissible Stresses

• σcb = 8.3 N/mm2 m = 10 Q = 1.1

• σst = 200 N/mm2 j = 0.9

 3. Depth of slab and effective span
• Assume thickness of slab at 80 mm per metre of span for highway bridge decks.
• Therefore overall slab thickness = (80 X 6) = 480 mm
• Adopt overall depth of 500mm for the slab
• Using 20 mm diameter HYSD bars with clear cover of 30mm
• Effective depth = 500 - (30+10) = 460mm
• Width of bearing = 400mm
• Effective span is the least of
• a) (clear span + effective depth) = (6 + 0.46) = 6.46m
• b) Centre to centre of bearings = (6 + 0.4) = 6.4m
• Effective span = L = 6.4m
• The cross section of the deck slab is shown in Figure below
 4. Dead load bending moments
• Dead weight of slab = (0.5 X 24) = 12kN/m2
• Dead weight of W.C. = (0.08 X 22) = 1.76kN/m2
• Total load = 14.00kN/m2
• Dead load bending moment = [(14 x 6.42)/8] = 72kN.m

5. Live load bending moments

• Generally the bending moment due to live load will be maximum for IRC class AA tracked
vehicle. Impact factor for class AA racked vehicle is 25% for 5m span, decreasing linearly to
10% for 9m span.
• Therefore, for 6.4m span
• Impact factor = [25-15/4 X (6.4-5)] = 19.7%
• The tracked vehicle is placed symmetrically on the span.
• Effective length of load = 3.6 + 2(0.5 + 0.08) = 4.76m
• Fig..Position of Load for Maximum Bending Moment
• Effective width of slab, perpendicular to span is expressed as,

• be = α x.[(1-x/L)] + b1
• x = 3.2m, L = 6.4m ,B = 9.5m, (B/L) = 1.48
• bw = (0.85 + 2 X 0.08) = 1.01m
• From Table for (B/L) = 1.48
• simply supported slabs, K = 2.84
• be = 2.84 X 3.2(1-3.2/6.4) + 1.01 = 5.56m
• The tracked vehicle is placed close to the Kerb with the required minimum clearance as
shown in Fig.BELOW- Effective Width of Dispersion of IRC Class AA Loads
•
• Net effective width of dispersion = 7.455m
• Total load of two tracks with impact = (700 X 1.197)
• = 838kN
• Average intensity of load = [838/(4.76 X 7.455)]
• = 23.61kN/m2

• Maximum bending moment due to live load is given by,

• Mmax = [(23.61 X 4.76)/2 X 3.2] - [(23.61 X 4.76)/2 X 4.76/4] = 113kN.m

• Therefore, Total design B.M. = (113 + 72) =185kN.m

• 6. Shear due to class AA Tracked Vehicle
• For maximum shear at support, the IRC class AA tracked vehicle is arranged as shown in
Fig.below
•
Effective width of dispersion is given by
• be = K.x.[(1-x/L)] + bw
• where x = 2.38 m
• B = 9.5 m (B/L) = 1.48
• L = 6.4 m K = 2.84
• bw = 1.01 m
• Therefore be = 2.84 X 2.38[1 - (2.38/6.4)] + 1.01
• = 5.256 m
• Therefore width of dispersion = [2625 + 2050 + 5256/2]
• = 7303 mm
• (Refer figure ABOVE slide)
• w = [838/(4.76 X 7.303)] = 24.1kN/m2
• Therefore shear force VA = (24.1 X 4.76 X 4.02)/6.4
• = 72kN
• Dead load shear = [(14 X 6.4)/2] = 45kN
• Therefore Total design shear = (72 + 45) = 117kN

•
• 7. Design of Deck slab
• Effective depth required is
• d = √(M/(Q .b)) = √(185 X 106)(1.1 X 1000) = 410 mm
• Effective depth provided = 460 mm
• Therefore Ast = M/(σst . j. d)
• = [(185 X 106)/(200 X 0.9 X 460)]
• = 2234 mm2
• Spacing of 20 mm diameter bars = [(1000 X 314)/2234] = 140 mm
• Adopt 20 mm diameter HYSD bars at 140 mm centres as main reinforcement to conform to
the criteria of control of cracking according to IRC:21-1987.

• (25 mm dia @not more than 150 mm c/c)

• Bending Moment for distribution of steel is
• = (0.3ML + 0.2MD) = (0.3 X 113) + (0.2 X 0.72) = 49kNm
• Using 12mm diameter bars,
• Effective depth = 460 - (10 + 6) = 444 mm
• Therefore Ast = (49 X 106)/(200 X 0.9 X 444) = 613 mm2
• Spacing of 12mm diameter bars = [(1000 X 113)/613] = 184 mm
• Provide 12mm diameter HYSD bars at 150mm centres as distribution steel
• 8. Check for Shear Stresses
• As per IRC:21-1987 , shear stresses in the slab are checked as follows:-
• Design Shear stress τ = (V/bd)
• where V = Design shear force
• b = width of section
• d = effective depth
• Permissible shear stress in slabs without shear reinforcements is computed as,
• τc = k1 . k2 . τco
• where τc = the permissible shear stress
• k1 = (1.14 - 0.7d) ≥ 0.5 where 'd' is expressed in meters
• k2 = (0.5 + 0.25ρ) ≥ 1
• τco = Basic values given below for different grades of concrete in Table(for M25 =0.4 Mpa)
• ρ = Percentage of longitudinal reinforcement ratio = (100As/bd)
• As = Area of longitudinal reinforcement which continues at least 'd' beyond the section
considered or fully anchored when support section is considered.
• b = width of the section
• τ = (V/bd) = [(117 X 103)/(1000 X 460)] = 0.254 N/mm2
• k1 = (1.14 - 0.7 X 0.460) = 0.82 ≥ 0.5
• k2 = (0.5 + 0.25ρ) where ρ = (100As/bd)
• Assuming 20 mm diameter bars spaced at 280mm at support section (alternate bars bent up)
• As = (1000 X 314)/280 = 1121 mm2
• ρ = (100 X 1121)/(1000 X 460) = 0.243
• k2 = (0.5 + 0.25 X 0.243)
• = 0.560 ≥ 1
• For M-25 grade concrete , τco = 0.40 N/mm2
• τc = k1 . k2 . τco
• = (0.82 X 1 X 0.40)
• = 0.328 N/mm2
• Since τ < τc , the shear stresses are within safe permissible limits. The details of
reinforcements in the slab is shown in Fig.