Numerical Analysis of Curling Behavior of Prestressed Approach Slab Subjected to Environmental Loads

The numerical analyses were performed to investigate the curling behavior of the post-tensioned prestressed concrete approach slab (PTAS) under environmental loads. A technique to include properly the boundary conditions of one end of PTAS that was connected to the bridge abutment using hinges was proposed for the numerical model. The applicability of a simplified model not having hunches was also investigated. By using the developed models, the curling behavior of PTAS was analyzed when the foundation settlement occurred. The analysis results showed that the maximum tensile stress obtained from the simplified model involving a simplified hinge connection was very closed to that obtained from a rigorous model. When the slab curled up, the maximum tensile stress occurred in the model including no foundation settlement, but when the slab curled down, the maximum stress occurred in the model including partial settlement of the foundation. Therefore, the design of PTAS should be performed considering those maximum tensile stresses.