CAMBERCalculations

From:http://epg.modot.org/index.php?title=751.22_P/S_Concrete_I_Girders

751.22.2.5 Deformations
Criteria for deflection
For investigating maximum absolute deflection, all design lanes shall be loaded, and all
supporting components should be assumed to deflect equally.
For composite design, the design cross-section should include the entire width of the roadway
and the structurally continuous portions of railings, sidewalks, and median barriers. Note that
safety barrier curbs are usually discontinuous over the bents. For skewed bridges, a right crosssection may be used.
Service I load combination shall be used. Dynamic load allowance shall be applied.

See EPG 751.2.4.2 Live Load Deflection Limits.

Calculation of deflection and camber

Deflection and camber calculations shall consider all internal loads (i.e., prestressing, concrete
creep, and shrinkage) and external loads such as dead loads and live loads.

Camber is an upward displacement caused by moment due to prestressing forces. Deflection is a

downward displacement due to external loads. Therefore, both camber and deflection shall be
considered in making an appropriate adjustment for final profile grade on the bridge.

Initial camber at transfer at midspan

Total initial camber at transfer due to self-weight of girder and prestressing forces shall be
determined as:

Where:
= Initial camber at transfer
= Deflection due to self-weight of girder
= Camber due to prestressing straight strands
= Camber due to prestressing harped strands

Note: Positive and negative values indicate downward and upward displacements, respectively.

Camber at midspan after strand release (Estimated at 7 days)

Theoretical camber of girder after strand release due to self-weight of girder and prestressing
forces shall be determined at 7 days as:

Where:
= Camber at 7 days after strand release with creep
= Time - dependent camber due to creep at 7 days
Note: Camber is calculated 7 days after strand release to allow sufficient time for inspection.
See EPG 1029 Fabricating Prestressed Concrete Members for Bridges.
Camber at midspan after erection (Estimated at 90 days)
Theoretical camber of girder after erection due to self-weight of girder and prestressing forces
shall be determined at 90 days as:

Where:
= Camber at 90 days after strand release with creep
= Time - dependent camber due to creep at 90 days

Final camber at midspan after slab is poured

Total deformation after slab is poured can be determined as the sum of theoretical camber of
girder after erection (90 days) and deflections due to slab and concentrated loads (haunch,
diaphragms, etc.) before composite action between slab and girder.

Where:
= Final camber after slab is poured
= Deflection due to weight of slab
= Deflection due to concentrated loads (haunch, diaphragms, etc.)

Final camber along span length

Deformations along the span length can be approximately determined as a product of final
camber at midspan times correction factors.
= 0.3140

at span fraction of 0.10

= 0.5930

at span fraction of 0.20

= 0.7125

at span fraction of 0.25

= 0.8130

at span fraction of 0.30

= 0.9520

at span fraction of 0.40

= 1.0000

at span fraction of 0.50

Calculation of camber (upward)

Camber at midspan due to strand forces is determined as the following: For straight strands,

Where:

Where:
= Total prestressing force of straight strands at transfer (including losses due to elastic
shortening), (kips)
= Total prestressing force in straight strands due to time-dependent losses prior to slab
placement (kips). Opposite in sign to

, typically.

= Distance between centerlines of bearing pads, (in.)

= Initial concrete modulus of elasticity based on

, (ksi)

= Final concrete modulus of elasticity based on

(ksi)

= Moment of inertia of transformed non-composite section computed based on

= Moment of inertia of transformed non-composite section based on

, (in.4)

= Eccentricity between centroid of straight strands (CSS) and center of gravity of

transformed non-composite section (CGB) as shown in Figure below, (in.)

For two-point harped strands,

, (in.4)

Where:

a = (L b) / 2

Where:
= Total prestressing force of harped strands at transfer (including loss due to elastic
shortening), (kips)
= Total prestressing force of harped strands due to time-dependent losses prior to slab
placement (kips)
= Length between harped points, (in.)
= Eccentricity between centroid of harped strands (CHS) and center of gravity of
transformed non-composite section (CGB) at midspan as shown in Figure below, (in.)
= Eccentricity between centroid of harped strands (CHS) and center of gravity of
transformed non-composite section (CGB) at the end of girder as shown in Figure below,
(in.)

Details of girder showing distances and eccentricities used in camber calculations

Calculations of deflections (downward)
Deflections at midspan due to dead loads are determined as the following: For self-weight of
girder,

Where:
Wg = Uniform load due to self-weight of girder, (kip/in.)

For self-weight of slab,

Where:
= Uniform load due to self-weight of slab, (kip/in.)
Weight of additional slab haunch may be treated as uniform or concentrated load as appropriate.
Diaphragm weight should be treated as concentrated load.
For one concentrated load at midspan,

For two equal concentrated loads,

Where:
= Concentrated load due to diaphragm and/or additional slab haunch, (kips)
= Distance from the centerline of bearing pad to the applied load, P, (in.)
Creep coefficient
Research has indicated that high strength concrete (HSC) undergoes less ultimate creep and
shrinkage than conventional concrete.
Creep is a time-dependent phenomenon in which deformation increases under a constant stress.
Creep coefficient is a ratio of creep strain over elastic strain, and it can be estimated as follows:

=
=
=
=
=

Where:
= Creep coefficient.
= 70, Average annual ambient relative humidity
= Maturity of concrete, (days)
Use 7 days for camber design after strand release
Use 90 days for camber design after erection
= Age of concrete when a load is initially applied, (days)
Use 0.75 days for camber design.
= Volume-to-surface area ratio, (in.)
= Initial girder concrete compressive strength, (ksi)

Where:
= Moment due to girder weight at mid span.