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A worked end zone design for a pretensioned NU girder, covering shoe plates, strut-and-tie models, end zone reinforcement and bearing connections.
The ends of pretensioned girders are disturbed regions where large prestressing forces are introduced over the transfer length while bearing reactions and horizontal forces are delivered to a small area. Ordinary sectional design does not capture this behaviour, and poorly detailed end zones can crack, spall or lose strand anchorage. This course works through the end zone design of a deep NU girder for an Alberta highway bridge, using the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CSA S6). Learners start with design parameters, strand geometry and the governing non-composite and composite load cases, then size the girder shoe plate for bearing movement and concrete bearing resistance.
The core of the course is the strut-and-tie method. Learners build simplified models for the non-composite and composite conditions, introduce strand forces along the transfer length, and check node and strut stress limits and tie capacities, including stirrup anchorage within the fan of inclined struts. Sectional shear and web crushing checks near the support are also covered. The course then sets out minimum transverse reinforcement at the girder end to control splitting, development of longitudinal reinforcement and strands at anticipated crack locations, bottom flange confinement using a dedicated strut-and-tie model, and the shear stud and weld connection between the shoe plate and bearing sole plate.
What Will Be Covered:
Design parameters, strand geometry and governing load cases for end zone design
Preliminary sizing of the girder shoe plate and concrete bearing resistance checks
Sectional shear design and web crushing checks near the support
Strut-and-tie modelling of the end zone for non-composite and composite conditions
Node, strut and tie checks, including stirrup anchorage requirements
Minimum transverse reinforcement at the girder end to resist splitting forces
Development of longitudinal reinforcement and strands at anticipated crack locations
Bottom flange confinement reinforcement and a bottom flange strut-and-tie model
Shear stud and weld design for the shoe plate to sole plate connection
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