Manual and Computer Aided Design of Prestressed Concrete Bridges

The design of bridges is a unique art as they are expected to carry moving loads compared to the statically loaded structures. Mere training in code procedures and special design skills are inadequate for successful professional practice. Thorough understanding of basic concepts and response characteristics of various structural elements is necessary for professional bridge designers. This book encompasses the manual and computer aided design of prestressed concrete bridges. Besides explaining the detailed design procedures for designing various components of prestressed concrete girder bridge; this book also focuses on the basic concepts and definitions of various bridge components. The theory of prestressing with its merits and demerits is also discussed in detail. The manual design procedure of different members of prestressed concrete bridges is explained in a comprehensive and step-by-step manner. Illustrations are used to explain the computer aided design method. The design and analysis results are compared in the end and discussions are made in order to explain the reasons for possible discrepancies.