Spring 2017 CEE589-BRI: Highway Bridge Design

Homework Assignment No. 2

Due Date: Tuesday, February 21st

1) For the three-span bridge shown below answer the following questions giving reasons for your
answers:
1.a) Suggest lengths for the three spans of the bridge shown below such that the golden ratio
rule is satisfied.
1.b) Assuming the bridge is supported on rectangular single-column piers, suggest the length of
the pier cross section.
1.c) Using typical rang of span-to-depth ratio, suggest a depth for the superstructure assuming it
is constructed using Prestressed Precast I-girders.
1.d) Based on your answer in question 1.c provide reasonable suggestion for the deck overhang
length.

150 ft.

Shallow Valley

2) Determine whether the truck shown below with the three axle spacing designs presented in the
table will need a special overweight permit (P.S. Lengths provided in the table are in feet).

3x11 k 2x12 k 8k

2 x L1 L2 L3 L4
Spring 2017 CEE589-BRI: Highway Bridge Design

Truck No. L1 L2 L3 L4
1 4.5 15 3.5 6
2 4 36 3.5 4.5
3 6 17 3 7

3) A curved 2-span bridge is supported on two abutments and a rectangular single-column bent.
The two spans have identical lengths of 100 ft. The cross section of the bridge is shown in the
figure below. Given the following information compute the maximum bending moment and
shear force that the column could encounter at its base section under the effects of centrifugal
and braking forces considering a single design lane and design truck.

Data:
- Radius of curvature of traffic lane = 1,200 ft
- Highway design speed = 70 mph
- Assume that the abutment bearings can accommodate 8 ft

displacements in the longitudinal direction.

- Assume that the column is designed to behave in double
curvature (i.e. designed with rigid connection at the top).
- To be conservative, ignore the effect of shear keys at the 20 ft
abutment.

4) The section shown below is for a semi-circular nosed pier used to support a bridge crossing
over a river. The pier height is 25 ft. and is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. During winter
time it has been observed that the river surface turn into ice floes covered with snow. The table
provided below presents the results of a survey conducted to determine the Average Daily Air
Temperature at the bridge site. Use the information provided below to draw bending moment and
shear force diagrams of the pier (about both pier axes) due to water flow and dynamic ice forces.

Data:
- Design water velocity = 4.0 ft/s
- Water flow angle with respect to longitudinal bridge axis = 700
- Assume that the ice forces are computed at the ice melting point when the ice is
somewhat disintegrated.
- Friction angle of ice = 250
- River depth = 10 ft.
Spring 2017 CEE589-BRI: Highway Bridge Design

4 ft

14 ft

Day Avg. Daily Temp (0F) Day Avg. Daily Temp (0F) Day Avg. Daily Temp (0F)
23-Dec 33 15-Jan 21 7-Feb 23
24-Dec 34 16-Jan 30 8-Feb 15
25-Dec 38 17-Jan 33 9-Feb 12
26-Dec 32 18-Jan 32 10-Feb 13
27-Dec 30 19-Jan 34 11-Feb 14
28-Dec 29 20-Jan 20 12-Feb 17
29-Dec 32 21-Jan 21 13-Feb 26
30-Dec 34 22-Jan 15 14-Feb 28
31-Dec 35 23-Jan 10 15-Feb 31
1-Jan 32 24-Jan 10 16-Feb 30
2-Jan 30 25-Jan 20 17-Feb 28
3-Jan 29 26-Jan 7 18-Feb 25
4-Jan 25 27-Jan 9 19-Feb 29
5-Jan 18 28-Jan 9 20-Feb 30
6-Jan 9 29-Jan 8 21-Feb 30
7-Jan 8 30-Jan 2 22-Feb 32
8-Jan 5 31-Jan 3 23-Feb 35
9-Jan 2 1-Feb -10 24-Feb 34
10-Jan -3 2-Feb -8 25-Feb 36
11-Jan 8 3-Feb -3 26-Feb 38
12-Jan 12 4-Feb 6 27-Feb 39
13-Jan 20 5-Feb 15 28-Feb 35
14-Jan 22 6-Feb 20 29-Feb 36

5) The two span bridge shown below is supposed to be built in Columbia, SC (Zip Code 29225)
in a site comprising stiff soil. The bridge is required to be open to emergency vehicles after a
seismic event of 1000-year return period. The bridge is supported by two abutments that allow
movement in the longitudinal direction and a 3-column bent at the center. The bent columns are
3ft x 3ft and made of concrete. Use the information provided below to compute the design
seismic moment at the base of the columns in the longitudinal direction of the bridge.
Spring 2017 CEE589-BRI: Highway Bridge Design

Data:
- You may use this USGS link to determine the seismic hazard parameters
(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/designmaps/us/application.php)
- Consider the superstructure to be infinitely rigid with a dead weight equal to 8.5 k/ft.
- Assume that the columns are fixed at the base
- Assume that the pier cap is infinitely rigid.
- Assume any missing data.

50 ft 50 ft

4 ft

18 ft