Experimental study of the metal-plate-connected in the prestresses losses in wood bridge deck

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental study on the influence of metal plate connected on loss in prestress in wood bridge decks. As the connectors reduce the direct contact of the wood, the losses in prestress present values different from those obtained in conventional laminated prestressed plates. This paper presents an experimental study where the losses in prestress were assessed by continuous instrumentation in a room with controlled temperature and humidity. That allowed the identification of the stress levels on the elements after 60 days, which corresponds to the initial stage of bridge service, with the aim of providing preliminary data to establish prestressing plans. The experimental values were adjusted to the theoretical and empirical models by the least squares method. Through mean value analysis, the results demonstrated that no significant differences occurred between the metal-plate-connected system and the system without connectors, however, it more tests are needed in order to obtain a more representative sample.

Keywords:
Prestress; Bridges; Rheological models; Least squares method