Live Load Distribution in

Multi-Cell Box-Girder Bridges

and its Comparison with Current AASHTO
LRFD Bridge Design Specifications
by
Rob Y.H. Chai, Eddy Shin-Tai Song & Karl M. Romstad
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of California, Davis

&
Susan E. Hida
California Department of Transportation
AASHTO LRFD Live Load Distribution Factors
 Range of Applicability of Live Load
Distribution Factors
 Bridges of constant deck width
 Number of girders greater than or equal to 4
 Parallel girders with approximately equal spacing
 Span length must exceed 2.5 times the deck width
 Plan curvature of less than 12 degrees in any one
span

These requirements are very restrictive for the inventory of

box-girder bridges in California. Structures outside of these
limits require refined 3D models, which are not a part of the
routine design
 Objectives of Study
 Conduct a detailed study of the limits imposed by
the 1998 AASHTO LRFD Specifications
 Investigate whether these limits can be broadened
to include typical box-girder bridges in California
 Emphasis is placed on these three parameters:
• Non-prismatic cross-sections
• Plan aspect ratio (length/width) less than 2.5
• Plan curvature > 12 degrees in any one span
 Selection of Bridge Parameters
• Reference – NCHRP 12-26/1

Parameter Mean Std. Deviation

Span length 89.5 ft 20.1 ft
Depth 4.94 ft 0.95 ft
Number of cells 5.9 3.7
Width (curb-to-curb) 46.6 ft 24.6 ft

• Caltrans Memo-To-Designers 15-2 (May 1989)

Box-girder Type Girder spacing-to-depth ratio

Reinforced concrete 1.5
Prestressed concrete 2.0
Load Cases For Comparison Between Grillage
and Finite Element Models
0.5L 0.5L Girder
1
2
Load Case 1 889.8 kN 889.8 kN
3
4
5
L C L
Grillage model per 0.4L
L
0.4L Girder

Hambly (1991) 889.8 kN

1
2
Load Case 2 889.8 kN
3
4
5
L C L
L
Analysis tool 0.6L Girder
1

SAP2000 Load Case 3 1334.7 kN

2
3
4
5
L C L
L
0.4L 0.4L Girder
1
2
889.8 kN 3
Load Case 4
4
889.8 kN 5
L C L
L
0.1L 0.1L Girder
1
2
Load Case 5 3
889.8 kN 889.8 kN 4
5
L C L
L
Results from Grillage and Finite Element Models
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 (m)
-1500 -2000
Moment
-1000 Girder 2

(kN-m)
-1000
(kip-ft)
-500
0 0
500 Grillage
1000
1000 F.E.M
1500 2000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 (ft)
Case 2, Girder #2
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 (m)
-1000 -1000
Moment

-500 Girder 4

(kN-m)
0 0
(kip-ft)

500 1000
1000 Grillage
1500
2000 F.E.M
2000
2500 3000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 (ft)
Case 4, Girder #4
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 (m)
Shear Force

200 800
150 Girder 3
100 400

(kN)
(kip)

50
0
-50
0
-100 Grillage -400
-150
-200
F.E.M
-800
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 (ft)
Case 5, Girder #3
AASHTO HL-93 Design Vehicular Loads

Design truck with lane load Design tandem with lane load

33% dynamic load allowance applied to design truck

and design tandem
Dual Truck and Dual Tandem Load

Dual Truck Load

Dual Tandem Load

33% dynamic load allowance applied to dual truck and dual tandem
 Live Load Distribution Factor – Definition
QConBridge
SAP2000

Beam-line model Grillage Model

Mmax = M1 Mmax = M2
Distribution to girder:
Vmax = V1 Vmax = V2
M2 V2
Live Load Distribution Factor g = or
M1 V1
Definition applies to both interior and exterior girders
Definition of Acceptance Ratio
Longitudinal

Mgrillage Vgrillage
mg(M) = m x mg(V) = m x
Mbeamline Vbeamline
mg(from analyses)
Acceptance Ratio =
mg(LRFD formula)
Non-Constant Deck Width Bridge – Two Spans
11.36 11.36
C C
1.14 1.14
2.27 2.27 2.27 2.27
0.196
1.52
0.152
1.52 1.52
30.3 Section C-C & Section D-D

6.06 9.09
B B 3@1.14 1.14
2.27 2.27
0.196
1.52
0.152
30.3
0.379 1.14 1.52
Section B-B

9.09
1.14 1.14
A A 2.27 2.27 2.27
0.196
9.09 1.52
Two-Span Continuous 0.152
6.25% flare
1.52 1.52
(1:16)
All dimensions are in meters Section A-A
Distribution Factor and Acceptance Ratio
for Non-Constant Deck Width Bridges
Plan Aspect Ratio & Cell Width-to-Depth Ratio

Cell width-to-depth ratio (S/D): 1.25, 1.83 and 2.25

Plan aspect ratio (L/W): 0.9 ~ 3.3
Distribution Factor for Interior Girder
Moment (2 Lanes Loaded)

1 1

0.9 0.9

0.8 0.8

0.7 0.7

0.6 0.6

0.5 m g 0.5 m g
3.275 3.275
2.483 0.4 2.483 0.4
2.392 2.392
2.118 2.118
1.885 0.3 1.885 0.3
1.761 1.761
L/W 1.555 0.2 L/W 1.555 0.2
1.482 1.482
1.365 1.365
0.1 0.1
1.14 1.14
1.114 0 1.114 0
0.926 0.926
S/D:2.25

S/D:2.25
S/D:1.83

S/D:1.83
S/D:1.25

S/D:1.25
LRFD formula S/D
Analyses
S/D
 Distribution Factor for Exterior Girder
Moment (3 Lanes Loaded)

1 1

0.9 0.9

0.8 0.8

0.7 0.7

0.6 0.6

0.5 m g 0.5 m g
3.275 3.275
2.483 2.483 0.4
0.4 2.392
2.392
2.118 2.118
1.885 0.3 1.885 0.3
1.761 1.761
L/W 1.555 L/W 1.555 0.2
0.2
1.482 1.482
1.365 1.365
0.1 0.1
1.14 1.14
1.114 1.114
0 0
0.926 0.926
2.25
LRFD formula 1.25
1.83
2.25
Analyses 1.25
1.83
S/D
S/D
 Distribution Factor for Exterior Girder
Shear Force (More Than 3 Lanes Loaded)

1 1

0.9 0.9

0.8 0.8

0.7 0.7

0.6 0.6

0.5 m g 0.5 m g
3.275 3.275
2.483 0.4 2.483
2.392 0.4
2.392
2.118 2.118
1.885 0.3 1.885 0.3
1.761 1.761
L/W 1.555 0.2 L/W 1.555
1.482 0.2
1.482
1.365 1.365
0.1 0.1
1.14 1.14
1.114 1.114
0 0
0.926 0.926
2.25 2.25
1.83
LRFD formula
1.25
S/D Analyses 1.25
1.83
S/D
 Acceptance Ratio for Interior Girder
Moment (2 Lanes Loaded)

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

Acceptance Ratio 0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1
2.25
0
3.275 1.83 S/D
2.483 2.392 2.118 1.885 1.761 1.25
1.555 1.482 1.365 1.14
L/W 1.114 0.926
Acceptance Ratio for Exterior Girder
Moment (3 Lanes Loaded)

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

Acceptance Ratio 0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1
2.25
0
3.275 1.83 S/D
2.483 2.392 2.118 1.885 1.761 1.25
1.555 1.482 1.365 1.14
L/W 1.114 0.926
 Acceptance Ratio for Exterior Girder
Shear Force (More Than 3 Lanes Loaded)

Acceptance Ratio for Exterior Girder

1

Shear Force (More Than 3 Lanes

0.9

Loaded)0.8

0.7

0.6

Acceptance Ratio 0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1
2.25
0
1.83
3.275 2.483 2.392 S/d
2.118 1.885 1.761 1.555 1.25
1.482 1.365 1.14 1.114
L/W 0.926
 2 Span
Span L = 45
3
.5 m
L = 30 .75 m
1 m
p an .875 Sp
S 22
L= L
=
an
34 4
.3
13
m
76.25 m
122 m
R=
183 m
228.75 m
Curved Bridges
Symmetric
Cross Section

Curvature in Plan Span 1 Span 2 Span 3 Span 4

(degrees) L=22.875m L=30.5m L=45.75m L=34.313m
Bridge 1, R=76.25 m 17.19 o 22.92 o 34.38 o 25.78 o
Bridge 2, R=122 m o o o o
10.74 14.32 21.49 16.11
Bridge 3, R=183 m 7.16 o 9.55 o 14.32 o 10.74 o
Bridge 4, R=228.75 m 5.73 o 7.64 o 11.46 o 8.59 o
 Distribution Factor for Interior Girder
Positive Moment – 2 Lanes Loaded
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.0
0.9
0.8
mg 0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Span Length (m)

LRFD formula R = 76.25 m R = 122 m R = 183 m R = 228.75 m

 Distribution Factor for Exterior Girder
Negative Moment – 2 Lanes Loaded
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.0
0.9
mg 0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Span Length (m)
LRFD formula R = 76.25 m R = 122 m R = 183 m R = 228.75 m
 Distribution Factor for Interior Girder
Shear Force - 2 Lanes Loaded
Shear of Interior Girders, 2 Lanes

1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.0
0.9
0.8
mg
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Span Length (m)
LRFD Formula R = 76.25 m R = 122 m R = 183 m R = 228.75 m
 Acceptance Ratio for Interior Girder
Positive Moment – 2 Lanes Loaded

1.0
0.9
0.8
Acceptance Ratio

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
Outside of LRFD Limits
0.1
0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Curvature in Plan (degrees)

Bridge 1, R=76.25 m Bridge 2, R=122 m

Bridge 3, R=183 m Bridge 4, R=228.75 m
 Acceptance Ratio for Exterior Girder
Negative Moment – 2 Lanes Loaded

1.0
0.9
0.8
Acceptance Ratio

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
Outside of LRFD Limits
0.1
0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Curvature in Plan (degrees)

Bridge 1, R=76.25 m Bridge 2, R=122 m

Bridge 3, R=183 m Bridge 4, R=228.75 m
 Acceptance Ratio for Interior Girder
Shear Force – 2 Lanes Loaded

1.0
0.9
0.8
Acceptance Ratio

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
Outside of LRFD Limits
0.1
0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Curvature in Plan (degrees)

Bridge 1, R=76.25 m Bridge 2, R=122 m

Bridge 3, R=183 m Bridge 4, R=228.75 m
 Conclusions
 The current AASHTO LRFD distribution factor for box-
girder bridges is conservative, even for bridges outside
their range of applicability
 The limit for plan aspect ratio may be expanded to 1
instead of the current limit of 2.5
 The LRFD distribution factor may also be used for non-
constant deck width bridges with flare up to the limit of
6.25% or 1-in-16
 The plan curvature limit of 12 degrees appears
unnecessary, and may be increased to about 35 degrees