Prestressed concrete bridges represent a pinnacle of modern structural engineering, offering unparalleled efficiency, durability, and aesthetic versatility for spans ranging from medium to very long, making them a preferred choice for complex and high-performance infrastructure projects worldwide. Prestressed Concrete Bridge Design (Advanced Topics) delves into the sophisticated analytical and design methodologies required to master the intricacies of these structures, addressing challenges such as time-dependent effects, segmental construction, advanced analytical modeling, and specialized detailing that go beyond conventional reinforced concrete design. This comprehensive training course is designed to equip bridge engineers, structural analysts, and design professionals with the in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical application skills to confidently design, analyze, and optimize advanced prestressed concrete bridges, ensuring their long-term structural integrity, serviceability, and economic viability. Without advanced expertise in Prestressed Concrete Bridge Design, engineers risk suboptimal designs, constructability issues, and a failure to fully leverage the benefits of this complex yet powerful structural system, underscoring the vital need for specialized expertise in this critical domain.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Bridge Design Engineers with basic prestressed concrete knowledge
• Structural Engineers involved in bridge projects
• Civil Engineers focusing on large-scale infrastructure
• Consulting Engineers specializing in concrete structures
• Technical Reviewers and Approving Authorities
• Academics and Researchers in structural engineering
• Postgraduate Students in civil/structural engineering
• Contractors involved in prestressed concrete construction
• Software Developers for bridge design applications
• Project Managers overseeing prestressed concrete bridge designs

Objectives

• Understand the advanced principles of prestressing and its application in bridge engineering.
• Learn about time-dependent losses in prestress and their accurate calculation.
• Acquire skills in designing complex prestressed concrete bridge elements (e.g., segmental, box girders).
• Comprehend techniques for construction stage analysis of prestressed bridges.
• Explore strategies for addressing temperature effects and thermal gradients in design.
• Understand the importance of serviceability and ultimate limit state checks for prestressed concrete.
• Gain insights into shear and torsion design in prestressed members.
• Develop a practical understanding of external and unbonded prestressing systems.
• Master long-term deflection and camber analysis.
• Acquire skills in detailing and constructability considerations for prestressed concrete.
• Learn to utilize advanced bridge design software for prestressed concrete analysis.
• Comprehend techniques for fatigue design of prestressed concrete elements.
• Explore strategies for rehabilitation and strengthening of existing prestressed bridges.
• Understand the importance of quality control and assurance in prestressed concrete construction.
• Develop the ability to critically evaluate and optimize prestressed concrete bridge designs.

Course Content

Module 1: Review of Prestressed Concrete Fundamentals and Advanced Concepts

• Basic principles of prestressing: pre-tensioning vs. post-tensioning.
• Concrete and steel material properties for prestressed applications.
• Stress concept and load balancing methods.
• Introduction to advanced prestressing systems and their components.
• Overview of relevant design codes (e.g., AASHTO LRFD, Eurocode 2).

Module 2: Time-Dependent Losses in Prestressed Concrete

• Detailed analysis of elastic shortening, creep, shrinkage, relaxation losses.
• Calculation methodologies for time-dependent losses according to codes.
• Impact of environmental conditions on losses.
• Long-term effects on prestress forces and stresses.
• Mitigation strategies for minimizing losses.

Module 3: Serviceability Limit State (SLS) Design for Prestressed Concrete

• Control of stresses under service loads (compressive and tensile limits).
• Crack control in prestressed concrete members.
• Long-term deflection and camber calculations.
• Vibration analysis and human comfort criteria.
• Comparison of SLS criteria between different codes.

Module 4: Ultimate Limit State (ULS) Design for Flexure and Shear

• Flexural strength analysis of prestressed concrete sections.
• P-M interaction diagrams for prestressed columns.
• Shear design of prestressed concrete beams, including Vc, Vs, Vp contributions.
• Torsion design for box girders and other elements.
• Detailing for ULS requirements.

Module 5: Segmental Bridge Design and Construction

• Principles of segmental construction: precast vs. cast-in-place segments.
• Erection methods: balanced cantilever, span-by-span, progressive launching.
• Design of segmental joints (wet vs. dry joints).
• Shear keys and their role in transferring forces.
• Tendon profiling and anchorage in segmental bridges.

Module 6: Construction Stage Analysis of Prestressed Bridges

• Importance of analyzing stresses and deflections at various construction stages.
• Step-by-step modeling of erection sequences.
• Accounting for temporary supports, formwork, and equipment loads.
• Monitoring stresses in critical elements during construction.
• Software applications for construction stage analysis.

Module 7: External and Unbonded Prestressing Systems

• Advantages and disadvantages of external prestressing.
• Components of external prestressing systems (tendons, deviators, anchorages).
• Design considerations for external tendons.
• Repair and strengthening using external prestressing.
• Fatigue of external tendons and anchorage zones.

Module 8: Temperature Effects and Thermal Gradients

• Impact of temperature variations on bridge structures.
• Thermal expansion and contraction effects.
• Modeling thermal gradients in bridge decks (day/night, seasonal).
• Stresses induced by temperature differentials.
• Design provisions for thermal movements and forces.

Module 9: Detailing for Constructability and Durability

• Reinforcement detailing in prestressed concrete elements.
• Anchorage zone detailing for various prestressing systems.
• Duct detailing and grouting requirements.
• Concrete cover, permeability, and durability considerations.
• Best practices for inspection and quality control during construction.

Module 10: Fatigue Design of Prestressed Concrete Bridges

• Fatigue behavior of prestressing tendons and reinforcing steel.
• Stress range limitations for prestressing strands.
• Fatigue assessment of anchorages and deviators.
• Fatigue design for shear and flexure.
• Impact of traffic loads on fatigue life.

Module 11: Advanced Analysis of Prestressing Forces and Cable Profiles

• Optimized tendon profiles to achieve desired stress distributions.
• Deviator design and force transfer.
• Hyperstatic effects of prestressing in indeterminate structures.
• Influence lines for prestressing forces.
• Practical considerations for tendon layout and stressing.

Module 12: Rehabilitation and Strengthening of Prestressed Concrete Bridges

• Common damage types in prestressed concrete bridges.
• Assessment of existing prestressed bridges.
• Strengthening techniques: adding external prestressing, FRP wraps, post-installed rebar.
• Repair of deteriorated prestressing tendons and anchorage zones.
• Load rating update after rehabilitation.

Module 13: Concrete Creep and Shrinkage Modeling (Advanced)

• Detailed constitutive models for concrete creep and shrinkage (e.g., ACI 209, Eurocode 2).
• Numerical methods for time-dependent analysis.
• Impact of creep and shrinkage on long-term deflections and stress redistribution.
• Interaction with prestress losses.
• Software tools for advanced creep and shrinkage analysis.

Module 14: Special Topics in Prestressed Concrete Bridge Design

• Shear lag in box girders.
• Strut-and-tie modeling for disturbed regions.
• Design of diaphragms and end blocks.
• Corrosion protection for prestressing tendons.
• Fire resistance of prestressed concrete elements.

Module 15: Software Application and Case Studies in Advanced Prestressed Design

• Hands-on exercises with commercial bridge design software (e.g., MIDAS Civil, LUSAS, SAP2000, ADINA).
• Modeling complex prestressed geometries and construction sequences.
• Interpretation of analysis results for design verification.
• In-depth case studies of iconic prestressed concrete bridges (design challenges and solutions).
• Optimization and value engineering in prestressed bridge design.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.