MPC Research Reports
Report Details

Title:	Shear Key for Strengthening Bridges
Authors:	Richard Gutkowski, Kevin Brown, Patrick Etournaud, and Wayne Thompson
University:	Colorado State University
Publication Date:	Aug 2001
Report #:	MPC-01-126
Project #:	MPC-140
TRID #:	00823221
Keywords:	beams, bridge decks, bridges, composite structures, concrete, load tests, pull out test, wood

Abstract

The concept of combining wood and concrete in layered composite bridge deck was investigated. A shear key/anchor detail recently used in Europe to construct floors in office buildings was adapted for this study. This connection detail provides the interlayer shear transfer between the layers. Laboratory testing included anchor pull-out tests, interlay slip tests on various key/anchor details, preliminary load tests of full-scale rectangular layered beam specimens and pilot tests of two full-size layered deck specimens. The deck specimens were realistic for short span right and skewed longitudinal deck bridges, respectively. A rigorous analytical model successfully predicted the beam behavior. Analytical work is in progress to rigorously model the composite behavior of the decks. Results show that under static loading, a high degree of composite action was achieved in the beam specimens, as compared to use of ordinary mechanical connectors. An initial analysis shows an extremely high efficiency for the deck specimens, but is overestimated in the model.