A Study on Load Distribution Effect in Skew Slab Bridges

The proper design of skew slab bridges and evaluation of existing ones require an accurate prediction of live load moment per unit slab width. The design method specified by the Korea Bridge Design Code does not account for the effect of skew. The use of wheel load distribution width given by codes of practice does simplify the analysis and design of bridges, but use of inappropriate wheel load distribution width can mislead to design moment, expecially in the case of skew bridges. In this paper, the influence of skew, as well as other design parameters, on the wheel load distribution widths of skew slab bridges are investigated. Finite element model used in the study is verified by results from Held tests on two skew slab bridges. The finite element analysis is then employed to conduct an extensive parameter study on more than 315 prototype bridge cases. Several parameters are varied. such as aspect ratio, an히e of skew and number of lanes. The span vary between 10.5 and 26.25 m. The angle of skew are varied between and The results show that the presence of skew causes significant reduction in moment per unit slab width. Therefore, wheel load distribution widths increase significantly with increase in the skew angle.