Flexural Bearing Capacity Test study for Impacted Reinforced Concrete Beams

Both theoretical analyses and experimental researches are carried out to obtain flexural bearing capacity of the main girders after the superstructure of a reinforced concrete bridge was collided by an ultra-high vehicle. Two girders were dismantled from the accident bridge (one with the most serious collision damage and the other without obvious exterior damage).Their ultimate flexural bearing capacities were respectively calculated by nonlinear finite element method. The experimental scheme was designed according to the bending failure mode of the normal section. Based on the ultimate bearing capacities by theoretical calculation, maximum test load is estimated and the graded load is determined. The test by step-by-step loading reveals the full-process characteristics and failure modes of the collided reinforced concrete beams. The experimental results show that the break of the normal section of the impacted beam begins at the damaged location, and only the damage degree of the components is taken into account while the short-term bending capacity is being calculated. Based on the current Code for Design of Reinforced Concrete and Prestressed Highway Bridges and Culverts(JTG D62-2004), the formulas for the bearing capacity of the damaged beam and its analysis results are presented by introducing the damage coefficient of the collided beams. The formulas and test analysis results can meet the demand of the calculation of the normal section bearing capacity of the collided reinforced concrete beam. © 2019, The Editorial Board of Journal of Basic Science and Engineering. All right reserved.