Analysis of efforts state from bridge decks with hinged beams when the hinges are blocked

Abstract

For the construction of bridge superstructures, especially of road bridges, have been used widely beams with hinges (Gerber girders). Due to some design deficiencies in the hinges area, after a 40-50 years operating period, these beams had to be rehabilitated. In most cases the rehabilitation meant their transformation into continuous beams, thus modifying the efforts state from the structure.
The present paper analyses the modification of the efforts state from a bridge superstructure with hinged beams transformed after the rehabilitation works into continuous beams, by blocking the hinges. The paper also analyses the measures which have to be taken for increasing the bearing capacity, as a result of the modification of efforts states. The analysis concludes that the major modifications of the efforts states are given by the traffic load.