FIELD TESTING TITLE

Field Testing to Failure of Four Solid
Concrete Slab Bridges

Fabien Lagier, Polytechnique Montreal
Bruno Massicotte, Polytechnique Montreal
David Conciatori, Laval University
Jean-François Laflamme, Bridge Department, Quebec Ministry of
Transportation, (MTQ)
SP Session : Advanced Analysis and Testing Methods for Concrete Bridge Evaluation and Design – Part 1
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
SP Session ACI 323 & 324 | Presentation : Field Testing to Failure of Four Solid Concrete Slab Bridges
Speaker : Fabien Lagier | Tuesday, March 26, 2019 1
Context : Concorde overpass collapse
Concorde overpass collapse

(Laval, September 30, 2006)
Type of failure : Sudden shear plane failure

Bridge description Cantilever thick slab with dapped end
Concrete box girder
Highlights :
o Built in 1970
o Central span supported by cantilever
thick slab with dapped end
o Bridge with 20.5° bias
o Collapse after a life span of 36 years
[Johnson Commission]
Bridge description Cantilever thick slab with dapped end
Concrete box girder
Highlights :
o Built in 1970
o Central span supported by cantilever
thick slab with dapped end
o Bridge with 20.5° bias
o Collapse after a life span of 36 years
Cantilever concrete thick slab :

o ~ 1200 mm thick slab (~ 45 in.)
o No shear reinforcement
(except inadequate anchorage of vertical tension tie)
Cause
Causes : a “chain of causes” led to collapse

o Inadequate anchorage of vertical tension tie in beam seat region
o Improper rebar installation on site, which where cracks occurred
caused a "plane of weakness"
[Drawing] [As built]
o Low quality concrete used

o Crack formation due to thermal effect (Asphalt pavement done during
winter period in 1992)

o Inadequate anchorage of vertical tension tie in beam seat region
o Improper rebar installation on site, which where cracks occurred
caused a "plane of weakness"
[Drawing] [As built]
o Low quality concrete used

o Crack formation due to thermal effect
o Water infiltration
o Concrete core started to disagregated
Sudden shear plane failure
MTQ Questions:
1. Is this problem more general?
2. Should we worry for other bridges with
thick slab whithout shear reinforcement?
From Concorde collapse to experimental program
F
Loads from
box girders
From Concorde collapse to experimental program
Sudden shear failure
Conclusions :
1. The shear crack that led to the failure appeared suddendly
2. Whithout any precursor signs
Context : MTQ Actions :
MTQ actions :
o Change design requirement for concrete slab bridges (2007)
o Provide more specific inspection
o Perform advanced studies
Research program (2008 – 2016):

1. Sophisticated analysis using NLFEA
~ 10 real structure studied
[Constitutive model : EPM3D – Polytechnique Montreal]
Context : MTQ Actions :
MTQ actions :
o Change design requirement for concrete slab bridges (2007)
o More specific inspection
o Advanced studies required
Research program (2008 – 2015):

1. Sophisticated analysis using NLFEA
2. Field tests to failure of decomissioned concrete slab

bridges
3 Bridges
DIC
Field testing
Field testing : 0.8 9.0 0.6 9.0 0.8
0.464
o 3 Concrete Slab Bridges

Kamouraska bridge (2011 – 2016)
o 4 Destructive Load Tests
Irlande bridge (2008 – 2011)
Grantham bridge (2009 – 2012)
Field testing: St-Adrien d’Irlande
Irlande bridge : Tested in 2008

► Buit in 1939
► 2 simply supported spans
► Bias = 0°
► Span length ~ 9.0 m (~ 32’ )
► Slab thick. = 460 m (18 1/4 ")

► #8 (25M) plain rebar with hook
► Starter bars between Abutment-Slab

Hooked bar #4 (12.5M) @ 301/2 "
0.8 9.0 0.6 9.0 0.8
0.464
Field test on Field test on

North Span South Span
2 destructive tests
Field testing: St-Germain-de-Grantham
Grantham Bridge: Tested in 2010

► Buit in 1937
► 1 simply supported span
► Bias = 9.5°
► Span length ~ 9.0 m (~ 32’ )
► Slab thick. = 530 m (19’)


Vert. straight bar #8 (25M) @ 24"
1 destructive test
Field testing: St-Denis-de-Kamouraska
Kamouraska Bridge: Tested in 2015

► Buit in 1955
► 1 simply supported span
► Bias = 40°
► Span length ~ 7.50 m (~ 25’ )

► Slab thick. = 457 m (18’)

Hooked bar #8 (25M) @ 36"
1 destructive test
Objectives
MTQ - Main interrogations :

For deep slabs without shear reinforcement (straight & skewed)
Does the initiation of shear failure…
1) will cause the collapse of the bridge?
or
2) will be followed by stress redistribution avoiding sudden collapse?
Objectives of the research program

1. Verify if concrete thick slab bridges presents risks with
shear capacity
2. Evaluate the reserve capacity availabale in presence of a
local shear failure (redistribution capacity)
Research strategy
Research strategy
Design a loading frame
o Versatile system (Straight and skew)
o Functional
o Safe load application
o Easy to install
Try new field measurement techniques

o Infrared deflection measurement
o DIC : Digital Image Correlation
Loading Frame
Loading Frame
CL-625: 390 kN
ConceptCL-625: 390 kN
Reproduce CL625 tire print
0.9 1.2 3.6
0.9 1.2 3.6

R = 295 kN
R = 295 kN a) Chargement réel avec majoration dynamique - Portée de 9.0 m
a) Chargement réel avec majoration dynamique - Portée de 9.0 m

Active actuators with
A Ancrage actifPbar
avec PassiveAncrage
anchorage B
anchored = 354vérin
kN passif
P = 354 kN
C Poutre Steel beam
de chargement
Applied
Chariot load (CL625 tire print)
0.9 1.2
0.9 1.2 a 1200

R = 295 kN
R = 295 kN b) Chargement équivalent au CL-625

L
b) Chargement équivalent au CL-625
Presstressing bars ancrée
Barre de précontrainte
dans un trou injecté de coulishole
installed in a pre-grouted
System: steel beams anchored in foundation

units and hydraulic actuators
Loading Frame
Loading Frame
Concept
Reproduce different critical transversal loading conditions
1.8m 0.9m 0.9m 1.8m
a) Cas 1 - 1 voie chargée (voie gauche ou droite)
1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m 1.2 m 1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m 1.2 m
SP Session ACI 323 & 324 | Presentationb):Cas 2 -Testing

Field 2 voies chargées à 90%
to Failure c) Cas 3Slab
of Four Solid Concrete - Chargement
Bridges sur toute la largeur jusqu'à la rupture
Loading Frame
Loading Frame
Global view
Loading Frame
Loading Frame
Tire print
Loading Frame
Loading Frame
Applied load from hydraulic actuators
Poutre active
Poutre active
Dessus de la culée
a) Vérins en course maximale b) Blocage de la force et

reprise de la course du vérin
Instrumentation
Instrumentation - MTQ
Strain gauges on rebars

LVDTs for shear cracks
Potentiometers for deflection

Inclinometer for rotation near the supports
Instrumentation
Instrumentation - Other
Digital Image Correlation DIC
Infrared deflection measurement
Field Test - Results
Service and Ultimate Load Behavior of Slab Bridges
Service and Ultimate Load Behavior of Slab Bridges
Ultimate Load Behavior of Slab Bridges

Irlande Bridge: South Span
Span in good condition

6000
► Load stopped : SOUTH
@ = 500kN 5000
SPAN
Essai 2 - Travée Sud
(kN)
4000
(kN)
totale
load Essai 1 - Travée Nord
3000
Charge
Total
2000
Factored load level
Shear crack initiation 1000
@ 2500 kN
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Mid-span deflection (mm)
Flèche au centre à mi-portée (mm)
► Span length ~ 9.0 m (~ 32’ )

"

Irlande Bridge: South Span Irlande Bridge: North Span
Span in good condition Span in poor condition

6000
► Load stopped : SOUTH ► Fmax = 4180 kN
Localized shear SPAN
@ = 500kN" 5000
failure
= 8 CL-625
NORTH
► Local shear crak appeared
Essai 2 - Travée Sud
SPAN
(kN)
4000
(kN)
totale
3000
Charge
Total
2000
Factored load level @ 4180 kN
@ 2500 kN
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
@ 3000 kN
@ 2500 kN

Irlande Bridge: South Span Irlande Bridge: North Span
Span in good condition Span in poor condition

6000
► Load stopped : SOUTH ► Fmax = 4180 kN
@ = 500kN 5000
SPAN = 8 CL-625
NORTH Essai 2 - Travée Sud
SPAN
(kN)
4000
(kN)
totale
3000
Charge
Total
2000
Factored load level
@ 2500 kN
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Ductile mode of failure
in bending
► Span length ~ 9.0 m ► Deflection > 125 mm (5" )

Grantham Bridge:
► Different damages in concrete slab
► small bias
► the beneficial effect of the earth fill has been removed

Grantham Bridge:

► Small bias
► The beneficial effect of the earth fill

has been removed
Total load (kN)
Ductile mode of failure

Mid-span deflection (mm) in bending

Grantham Bridge:

► Small bias
► The beneficial effect of the earth fill

has been removed
Total load (kN)

DIC showed that shear crack initiated
before bending failure

Conclusions
1. Much higher capacity than estimated with design code
2. When local shear failure at a corner governed the ultimate
cacapity, it was not followed by a sudden collapse
Kamouraska Bridge:
o High bias 40°

o Internal shear crack revealed during field test
preparation
o Obtain a clear shear failure
o Important modification on loading frame

Kamouraska Bridge:
works to widen existing in1996
obtuse angle
pre existing shear crack!

Kamouraska Bridge:
Load frame modification
Load applied according to this

tire print configurations

Kamouraska Bridge:
Shear failure

Kamouraska Bridge:
Shear failure

Kamouraska Bridge:
Conclusions
1. Much higher capacity than estimated with design code
2. Shear failure (with pre existing shear crack) at a obtuse corner
governed the ultimate cacapity
3. It was followed by ductile mode of collapse after shear failure
Conclusion
Conclusion
Load a concrete slab bridge to a loading corresponding to the
initiation of shear failure
1) Sould not results in the collapse of the structures
2) Internal forces will be redistributed before the complete collapse
occurs
True for a thickness of slab (h < 500 mm)
Conclusion
Conclusion
Load a concrete slab bridge to a loading corresponding to the
initiation of shear failure
1) Sould not results in the collapse of the structures
2) Internal forces will be redistributed before the complete collapse
occurs
True for a thickness of slab (h < 500 mm)
Still questionned for slab bridges with thickness h > 900 mm

Bridge Code CSA-S6-14 Commentary C5.6.1 ..
However refined nonlinear analyses by Massicotte et al. (2015) on 900 mm
deep slab bridges indicated that the stress redistribution following the
formation of shear cracks in deep slabs without shear reinforcement, straight
and skewed, might not be possible due to the large amount of energy
released. Although the right trend for the scale effects on the shear strength
of wide and deep slabs was confirmed, the closer the applied load to the
support the least the redistribution can take place in a deep slab.
Acknowledgements
o Quebec Ministry of Transportation
o Ecole Polytechnique staff
Thank you for attention!
Questions?

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Field Testing to Failure of Four Solid

Concrete Slab Bridges

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Concorde overpass collapse

Concorde overpass collapse

Concorde overpass collapse

Type of failure : Sudden shear plane failure

Bridge description Cantilever thick slab with dapped end

Concrete box girder

Bridge description Cantilever thick slab with dapped end

Concrete box girder

Cantilever concrete thick slab :

Causes : a “chain of causes” led to collapse

Causes : a “chain of causes” led to collapse

[Drawing] [As built]

o Low quality concrete used

Causes : a “chain of causes” led to collapse

[Drawing] [As built]

o Low quality concrete used

Sudden shear plane failure

From Concorde collapse to experimental program

From Concorde collapse to experimental program

Sudden shear failure

Research program (2008 – 2016):

[Constitutive model : EPM3D – Polytechnique Montreal]

Research program (2008 – 2015):

2. Field tests to failure of decomissioned concrete slab

Field testing : 0.8 9.0 0.6 9.0 0.8

o 3 Concrete Slab Bridges

Irlande bridge (2008 – 2011)

Grantham bridge (2009 – 2012)

Irlande bridge : Tested in 2008

► Span length ~ 9.0 m (~ 32’ )

► Slab thick. = 460 m (18 1/4 ")

► Starter bars between Abutment-Slab

0.8 9.0 0.6 9.0 0.8

Field test on Field test on

Grantham Bridge: Tested in 2010

► Span length ~ 9.0 m (~ 32’ )

► Slab thick. = 530 m (19’)

► Starter bars between Abutment-Slab

Kamouraska Bridge: Tested in 2015

► Span length ~ 7.50 m (~ 25’ )

► Starter bars between Abutment-Slab

MTQ - Main interrogations :

Objectives of the research program

Try new field measurement techniques

0.9 1.2 3.6

0.9 1.2 3.6

R = 295 kN a) Chargement réel avec majoration dynamique - Portée de 9.0 m

a) Chargement réel avec majoration dynamique - Portée de 9.0 m

0.9 1.2 a 1200

R = 295 kN b) Chargement équivalent au CL-625

System: steel beams anchored in foundation

1.8m 0.9m 0.9m 1.8m

a) Cas 1 - 1 voie chargée (voie gauche ou droite)

1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m 1.2 m 1.8 m 1.8 m 1.8 m 1.2 m

SP Session ACI 323 & 324 | Presentationb):Cas 2 -Testing

a) Vérins en course maximale b) Blocage de la force et

Strain gauges on rebars

Potentiometers for deflection

Digital Image Correlation DIC