CONCRETE BRIDGE CODE

(Reprint-2014,
Corrected up to CS no. 7)

G S YADAV
PB-2
 BROAD SCOPE OF CBC

• USE OF PCC, RCC & PSC IN RLY BRIDGE

CONSTRUCTION. Covers both In-situ & Precast
construction

• ROB– Design & construction shall comply with

specifications & codes issued by IRC (Indian Roads
Congress.
 CBC covers the following
• Materials
• Grades of concrete and basic
design values
• Production and placement of
concrete
• Limit state requirements, load
combinations
• RCC design
• PSC design
• Quality check of materials
 MATERIAL
(para 4)
Cement ( para 4.1 )

– 33 Grade OPC IS:269

– 43 Grade OPC IS: 8112
– 53 Grade OPC IS:12269
– Rapid hardening Portland Cement IS :
8041
– High Strength Portland Cement IRS: T-40
– Portland Slag cement IS:455
– Portland Pozzolona Cement IS:1489
– Sulphate resistance cement IS: 12330
 REINFORCEMENT (para 4.5)

• Reinforcement shall be any of the following :

– Grade-I mild steel and medium tensile steel bars
conforming to IS:432 (Part-I)
– High strength deformed steel bars conforming to
IS:1786.
– Thermo-mechanically Treated (TMT) Bars satisfying
requirements of IS:1786.
– Rolled steel made from structural steel conforming to
IS:2062 Gr.A and Gr.B.
– High strength deformed stainless steel bars and wires for
concrete reinforcement satisfying requirements of IS
code IS 16651 ( CS 7 dt 26.6.2018
– E for R/F shall be 200 kN/mm2
Note : For Siesmic zone III,IV &V HYSD steel bars of min
elongation 14.5% (IS1786) shall be used ( CS 3)
 PRE-STRESSING STEEL
( para 4.6)
Pre-stressing steel shall be any of following :-
• Plain hard-drawn steel wire conforming to
IS:1785 (part-I)
• Uncoated stress-relieved strand conforming
to IS:6006.
• High tensile steel bars conforming to IS:2090.
• Uncoated stress relieved low relaxation
strands conforming to IS:14268.
Modulus of Elasticity (Es) for Prestressing steel :
Its value shall preferably be determined by tests on
sample to be used for the project. However value of Es as
given by the manufacturer is generally accepted. If the
value is not provided by the manufacturer, following
values of Es is adopted.

Type of Steel Value of Es in KN/mm2

Plain cold-drawn wires Conforming to IS:1785 (Part-I) 210

High tensile alloy steel bars 200
a) Conforming to IS: 2090
Strands
a) Conforming to IS: 6006 195
b) Conforming to IS: 14268 195
 CONCRETE
( para 5)

• Concrete shall be in grades as

designated by its characteristic
strength.

• The characteristics strength is

defined as strength of material
below which not more than 5%
of the test results are expected
to fail
 TABLE 2
Note- M refers to the Mix and no. refers to the specified
compressive strength of 150mm cube at 28 days expressed in
N/mm2.

SPECIFIED CHARACTRISTIC
GRADE DESIGNATION COMPRESSIVE Strength AT 28 DAYS N/mm2

M 20 20
M 25 25
M 30 30
M 35 35
M 40 40
M 45 45
M 50 50
 TENSILE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

• Flexural Tensile strength of concrete will be

• fcr = 0.7 √fck
 E FOR CONCRET ( para 5.2.2)

• MODULUS OF ELASTICITY of concrete is related

to compressive strength of concrete

– In absence of data, value may be

taken from para 5.2.2.1
 TABLE ( para 5.2.2.1 of CBC)

Grade of Concrete Modulus of Elasticity

(in MPa) (in KN/mm2)
M 10 18
M 15 22
M 20 25
M 25 26
M 30 28
M 40 31
M 50 34
 SHRINKAGE OF CONCRETE
( para 5.2.3 )
• Approx value of Total shrinkage in PCC/RCC/PSC (pre-
tensioned only) may be taken as – 0.0003.

• Residual Shrinkage in post tensioned Concrete mainly

depends upon age of concrete at the time of application
of pre-stress loading.
 RESIDUAL SHRINKAGE OF POST
TENSIONED PRE-STRESSED CONCRETE
AGE OF CONCRETE AT THE
STRAIN DUE TO RESIDUAL
TIME OF STRESSING IN
SHRINKAGE
DAYS
3 0.00043
7 0.00035
10 0.00030
14 0.00025
21 0.00020
28 0.00019
90 0.00015
 CREEP IN CONCRETE ( oara 5.2.4)

• 50% OF CREEP TAKES PLACE IN FIRST MONTH OF

LOADING
• 75% OF TOTAL CREEP TAKES PLACE IN THE FIRST 6
MONTH OF LOADING
• Creep in concrete be taken as 43x10-6
per N/mm2 of stress at the centroid of
pre-stressing steel for PSC structures.
 CREEP IN CONCRETE

Note- Creep Coefficient is the ratio of Ultimate Creep Strain &

Elastic Strain
AGE OF Loading Creep Coefficient
7 days 2.2
28 days 1.6
1 year 1.1
 THERMAL EXPANSION
( para 5.2.5 )
Value of coefficient of Thermal expansion for
concrete with different types of aggregate is
as below :
 CONCRETE- DURABILITY
( para 5.4)
• Durability is the capacity of concrete to resist
WEATHERING, CHEMICAL ATTACK, ABRASION,
FROST AND FIRE.
• Depends upon its quality & constituent materials.
Concrete must have adequate cement content &
low water cement ratio.
• Also DEPENDS ON ENVIORNMENT IN WHICH IT IS
PLACED.
• SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CORROSION OF STEEL IS
GOVERNED BY - COVER PROVIDED, PERMEABILITY
OF CONCRETE.
EXPOSURE CONDITIONS/ ENVIRONMENT
• MODERATE: Protected against weather or
aggressive condition. sheltered from severe
rain or freezing whilst wet. Concrete
exposed to condensation. Concrete
continuously under water. In contact with
non aggressive soil/ground water
• SEVERE: exposed to severe rain or
alternate wetting and drying or occasional
freezing, severe condensation. Exposed to
aggressive sub-soil water or coastal
environment
• EXTREME: exposed to sea water, corrosive
fumes, severe freezing condition, exposed
to abrasive action, surfaces of members in
tidal zone.
 MINIMUM GRADE OF CONCRETE
( para 5.4.4)
• From durability consideration, minimum grade of
concrete is prescribed for PCC/RCC/PCS structure
for different exposure condition.
A) For PSC Bridges & Important Bridges

Exposure PCC RCC PSC

condition
Moderate M-25 M-30 M-35

Severe M-30 M-35 M-40

Extreme M-35 M-40 M-45

 MINIMUM GRADE OF CONCRETE

B) For other Bridges & Substructure

Exposure PCC RCC

condition
Moderate M-15 M-20

Severe M-20 M-25

Extreme M-25 M-30

CLEAR COVER TO REINFORCEMENT
( para 15.9.2)
• To ensure durability and prescribed lifespan
of structure, minimum concrete cover
thickness to reinforcement is given for
different structure for different exposure
condition.
EXPOSURE SLAB BEAM COLUMN
CONDITION
Moderate 25 35 50

Severe 35 50 75

Extreme 50 60 75
 CONSTRUCTION JOINTS
(para 8.5)
• Position and arrangement of construction
joint shall be predetermined by the designer

• Construction joints in PSC works should

preferable be avoided

• Construction joints shall comply with

provisions given at Appendix A of CBC
 LIMIT STATE REQUIREMENTS

• Serviceability Limit State (SLS)

– No local damage
– Crack width control in RCC, no crack
in PSC
• Ultimate Limit State (ULS)
– No collapse due to rupture, buckling
or overturning under extreme loads
– No excessive deflection
 CRACK WIDTH

• MODERATE ENVIRONMENT- 0.25 MM

• SEVERE – 0.20 MM
• EXTREME ENVIRONMENT- 0.10 MM

• PSC – NO CRACKS AS NO TENSILE

STRESS PERMITTED
 SAFETY FACTORS FOR MATERIALS

• SERVICEBILITY
• CONCRETE
– BENDING -0.50 fck FOR RCC & 0.40 fck FOR
PSC
– AXIAL COMPRESSION - 0.38 fck FOR RCC &
0.30 fck FOR PSC
• STEEL REIN. 0.75 fy

• ULTIMATE
– 1.5 FOR CONCRETE AND 1.15 FOR STEEL
SAFTY FACTORS FOR LOADS
• AS PER TABLE 12
• FOR LOAD COMBINATION 1

LOAD SLS ULS

DEAD WEIGTH OF CONCRETE 1.00 1.25
SUPERIMPOSED DEAD LOADS 1.20 2.00
EARTH PRESSURE 1.00 1.70
RELIEVING EFFECT OF EARTH - 1.00
PRESSURE
LIVE LOAD ON FOOT PATH 1.00 1.50
LIVE LOAD 1.10 1.75
 LOAD COMBINATIONS

1. PERMANENT LOADS + LIVE LOAD

2. PERMANENT LOADS + LIVE LOAD + WL
OR EQ + ERECTION
3. PERMANENT LOADS + LIVE LOAD +
RESTRAINT + ERECTION
4. PERMANENT LOADS + LIVE LOAD +
FRICTION AT BREARING
5. PERMANENT LOADS + DERAILMENT
LOADS
 SERVICE LIFE OF BRIDEGS
• Bridges shall be designed for service life as
under

TYPE OF STRUCTURE DESIGN LIFE IN YEARS

BRIDGES IN SEA 50
BRIDGES IN COASTAL 80
AREA
BRIDGES IF REST OF 100
INDIA
 LOAD TEST
• Load Test on individual precast Unit:
– Load test is intended as check on quality and Not as
substitute for normal design and construction procedures.
– Non-destructive Test – Unit should be supported at its
designed points of support and loaded for 5 min. with a
load= sum of characteristic DL + 1.25 x characteristic
imposed load.
– deflection should be recorded.
– Max. deflection measured after application of the load should
be in accordance with the requirements that should be
defined by engineer.
– Recovery should be measured 5 min. after the removal of
the applied load and the load then reimposed.
– The percentage recovery after the second loading should be
not less than that after the first loading nor less than 90% of
the deflection recorded during the second loading.
– At no time during the test should the unit show any sign of
weakness or faulty construction.
 LOAD TEST
• Load test of Structure or parts of Structures.
– The tests described in this clause are intended as a
check on structures other than covered in previous para,
where there is doubt regarding serviceability or
strength.
– To be done as soon as possible after 28 days
• Can be conducted early if quality of concrete is not
in doubt and Characteristic Strength has reached
– DL + 1.25 LL
– If final load is deficient >> compensate
– To be properly supported on bearing
– Maximum load to be kept for 24 hours
– No cracks should appear
 LOAD TEST
Load test of Structure ... Contd..
• Measure deflection
– If < 40 L2/h mm OK
– If > 40 L2/h Remove load,
measure recovery
– If Recovery > 85 % OK
– If Recovery < 85 % Again load and
measure recovery
– If Recovery > 85 % OK
otherwise FAIL

L = is effective span in meters, and

h =overall depth in mm
 Creep Co-efficient
In the absence of experimental data
ultimate creep strain may be estimated
from the following values of creep co-
efficient that is ultimate creep strain/elastic
strain at the age of loading.
Age of loading /Creep coefficient =
7 Days/ 2.2 ,28 Days/ 1.6 , 1 year /1.1

Note : The Ultimate creep strain estimated

as above does not include the elastic strain.