IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,309,634
Granted Patent B2
US 9,309,634 · App. 13/858,571 · Granted Apr 12, 2016

Continuous CFRP decked bulb T beam bridges for accelerated bridge construction

Inventor: Nabil F. Grace (Rochester Hills, MI)
Assignee: Lawrence Technological University
E01D19/125E01D2/02E01D2101/28
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,309,634
App. No.
13/858,571
Granted
Apr 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pre-stressed concrete bridge using longitudinal load members of a single continuous beam including at least two types of concrete, one of which is ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) mix with a compressive strength exceeding 137.9 Mpa (20 ksi) and tensile strength exceeding 10.34 Mpa (1.5 ksi) in a region proximate to the support structure.

Claims (21)

1. A bridge comprising:

A first support structure and a second support structure;

a longitudinal load member supported by said first and second support structures, said longitudinal load member including a first and a second section being formed substantially out of ultra-high performance concrete (“UHPC”) and an intermediate section of said longitudinal load member between said first and second section is formed of concrete which is not UHPC and wherein said first and second sections are disposed apart from each other on each end of said intermediate section and wherein said longitudinal load members include a plurality of longitudinally extending internal tendons along predetermined paths through each of said first, second and intermediate sections and wherein said internal tendons include at least one tendon extending along a first predetermined path, and wherein said first section is supported by said first support structure and said second section is supported by said second support structure.

2. The bridge of claim 1 wherein said first predetermined path passes through said first intermediate section along a first travel path and through said first section along a second travel path, and wherein said first and said second travel paths are angled relative to each other and are not parallel.

3. The bridge of claim 2 wherein said first predetermined path includes a third travel path through said second section and wherein said third travel path is angled relative to both of said first travel path and said second travel path.

4. The bridge of claim 3 wherein said first predetermined path includes a fourth travel path in said first and second section and wherein said fourth travel path is angled relative to said second and third travel paths.

5. The bridge of claim 3 wherein said fourth travel path is substantially parallel to said first travel path.

6. The bridge of claim 1 including a support structure having at least one abutment and wherein at least one of said first and second sections rests on said abutment.

7. The bridge of claim 6 wherein said support structure includes at least one pier, and wherein at least one of said first and said second sections rests on said pier.

8. The bridge of claim 1 further including a support structure and wherein said intermediate section is not supported by said support structure.

9. The bridge of claim 1 wherein said UHPC concrete has a compressive strength exceeding 20 ksi and tensile strength exceeding 1.5 ksi.

10. The bridge of claim 4 wherein said internal tendons include a second predetermined path and wherein said second predetermined path is substantially straight.

11. The bridge of claim 10 wherein said second predetermined path is substantially parallel to said second and said fourth travel paths.

12. The bridge of claim 1 wherein said intermediate section is formed from a concrete having a compressive strength less than 20 ksi and tensile strength less than 1.5 ksi.

13. The bridge of claim 12 wherein said intermediate section is formed from concrete having a compressive strength of 10-14 ksi.

14. The bridge of claim 1 wherein said internal tendons are prestressed tendons.

15. The bridge of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal load members are selected from the group consisting of hybrid decked bulb t-beams, hybrid decked bulb double t-beams and hybrid decked pi beams.

16. The bridge of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal load members form the traffic surface and wherein said bridge is free of a separate cast in place deck slab.

17. The bridge of claim 1 wherein said intermediate section forms no more than 70% of the longitudinal load members.

18. The bridge of claim 17 wherein said intermediate section forms no more than 80% of said longitudinal load members.

19. The bridge of claim 18 wherein said intermediate section forms no more than 85% of said longitudinal load members.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2013
From: GRACE, NABIL F., DR.
To: LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 030447/0273 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61621104 · Apr 6, 2012
Related Publication 20130269125A1 · Oct 17, 2013