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A complete worked design of a precast, pretensioned NU girder for a single-span highway overpass made integral with its abutments.
This course walks through the girder design of a 27 m single-span highway overpass built with NU1600 precast, pretensioned concrete girders and integral abutments, typical of a structure crossing an entrance or exit ramp at a major interchange. Learners follow the full workflow, starting with material properties, gross and transformed composite section properties, and a strand layout that uses debonded strands to control end stresses. Loads are developed for each stage of the girder's life, from transfer of prestress, through erection as a simply supported member carrying wet deck concrete and construction loads, to the completed composite structure that acts continuously and integrally with the abutments.
Design checks follow the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CSA S6) using simplified methods for live load distribution and prestress losses. Learners calculate short-term and long-term losses, check serviceability limit state (SLS) stresses at midspan, the transfer length and each debonding section, and quantify restraint moments and residual stresses caused by creep, differential shrinkage and temperature gradients. The course then estimates camber at each construction milestone and at the end of a 75-year service life, and finishes with ultimate limit state (ULS) checks for flexure using strain compatibility and for shear at the abutments. The result is a practical template for designing similar integral abutment overpasses.
What Will Be Covered:
Bridge geometry, material properties and resistance factors for an integral abutment overpass
Gross and transformed composite section properties of an NU1600 girder
Pretensioned strand layout with debonded strands at three transition sections
Dead, superimposed dead, construction and vehicle live loads with simplified live load distribution
Load history and load effects at transfer, during construction and in the composite integral stage
Short-term and long-term prestress losses by the simplified method
SLS stress checks at transfer, during construction and in the permanent case
Restraint moments and residual stresses from creep, shrinkage and temperature gradients
Camber estimates from transfer to the end of service life
ULS flexure by strain compatibility and ULS shear design at the abutments
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The Global Engineering Excellence Institute (GEEI) is a leading provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses designed to meet the evolving needs of engineers worldwide. Established in 2010, GEEI has a proven track record of delivering high-quality, industry-relevant training that empowers engineering professionals to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and best practices. Our comprehensive course offerings cover a wide range of disciplines, including civil, mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, ensuring that our learners receive the most up-to-date and practical knowledge. With a focus on practical application, GEEI's courses are developed by industry experts and are recognized by leading engineering bodies globally. We are committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth, helping engineers achieve their career goals and contribute to the advancement of the engineering profession.