SLAB BRIDGE is probably the most common bridge type.
It is mainly Types of SLAB BRIDGE (structure)
used in crossings and over waterways and also as an underpass for
walkways.
Types of SLAB BRIDGE (material)
Timber slab bridges
1 or 3 spans with a maximum span length of about 25 feet
Advantages
 Timber bridges can be constructed in virtually any weather
conditions.
 Do not require special equipment for installation, and can
normally be constructed without highly skilled labor.
 Present a natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance in
natural surroundings.
Disadvantages
 The use of timber bridges are limited to low-volume roads
 Not the most economical solution
Stone slab bridges
Advantages
 Usually the best choice for spans over 145 ft.
 Can be curved or cut to any geometry
 Lighter than concrete superstructures
Disadvantages
 Expensive
 Painting is unreliable
 Weathering steel stains supports and rusts under
continuous moisture or salt exposure
RCC slab bridges
Advantages
 Reinforced concrete has a high compressive strength
compared to other building materials.
 Due to the provided reinforcement, reinforced concrete
can also withstand a good amount tensile stress.
 Fire and weather resistance of reinforced concrete is fair.
 The reinforced concrete building system is more durable
than any other building system.
 Reinforced concrete, as a fluid material, in the beginning,
can be economically molded into a nearly limitless range
of shapes.
 The maintenance cost of reinforced concrete is very low.
 In structures like footings, dams, piers etc. reinforced
concrete is the most economical construction material.
 It acts like a rigid member with minimum deflection.
 As reinforced concrete can be molded to any shape
required, it is widely used in precast structural
components. It yields rigid members with minimum
apparent deflection.
 Compared to the use of steel in structure, reinforced
concrete requires less skilled labor for the erection of the
structure.
Disadvantages
 The tensile strength of reinforced concrete is about one-
tenth of its compressive strength.
 The main steps of using reinforced concrete are mixing,
casting, and curing. All of this affects the final strength.
 The cost of the forms used for casting RC is relatively
higher.
 For multi-storied building the RCC column section for is
larger than steel section as the compressive strength is
lower in the case of RCC.
 Shrinkage causes crack development and strength loss.
Slab bridges:
 Structure comprises a slab, supported at it ends. Usually
made of concrete (with reinforced),also possible in
laminated timber.
Beam-slab bridges (Slab girder bridges):
 Structure comprises one or more beams. Commonly used
for simple bridges with a span of up to 200 meters.
SLAB BRIDGE Design is a two-phase process:
 The first phase involves determining the design loads and
their effects in terms of moment and shear forces
 The second phase involves selecting members that have
sufficient strength to resist the effects of the intended
loads on the bridge. Before considering the design process
complete, the failure modes (lateral buckling, excessive
deflection, end bearing, and so forth) as well as moment
and shear must be checked
Loads that concerned SLAB BRIDGES
Live Loads:
Truck Loading
 AASHTO specify two types of truck loadings (HS and H).
Highways which may carry heavy truck traffic the
minimum live load shall be HS15-44.
Other Roadway Loading
 Bridge may be required to carry electric railways, railroad
freight cars, military vehicles, or other extra ordinary
vehicles.
Sidewalk Loading
 Sidewalk floors, stringers, and their immediate supports.
Impact Load
 Live load stresses due to truck loading are increased by
vibration and sudden application of the load.
SLAB BRIDGE Design Analysis
The analytical method only applies to slab bridges with the
main reinforcement running parallel to the direction of traffic. The
slab acts as a one-way slab in the direction of traffic.
Area above the neutral axis acts in compression, the
reinforcing steel in the bottom of the slab carries all of the tension
and the concrete carries no tension
Only the moment capacity is determined for the slab since
shear generally will not control in thin, reinforced-concrete
members
Only a one-foot-wide strip of slab at the midspan should
be considered.
The longer the slab is in proportion to its width the more
the slab is similar to a beam. In long span slab bridges the slab can
be calculated as a beam and only in details the influence of the slab
can be taken into account.