Modified approach for transverse reinforcement design of bridge deck slab on prestressed concrete T-beam girders

This paper focuses on the analysis and design of the bridge deck slab considering the wide flange prestressed Tbeam effects. The current practice in transverse reinforcement design method involves the use of prestressed T-beam girders supporting a heavily reinforced concrete bridge deck slab. The slabs are commonly assumed to be supported continuously at the center points of girders, neglecting the effect of the girder flange stiffness. The design in this manner produces a conservative transverse reinforcement in the slab. As alternative, a newly constructed bridge deck is chosen as a case study where the design based on this conservative assumption is compared with that considering the girder flange length, thickness and rigidity. It is found that the amount of transverse reinforcement of the concrete slab obtained from the conventional design is considerably larger than that considering the girder flange stiffness. This promising finding warrants further investigation of the latter approach focusing on the effect of girder flanges in taking bridge loading in the transverse direction.