Graduation date: 2007
Capacity of transverse 1950's vintage reinforced concrete deck girder bridge bent caps with
large straight bar anchorages were investigated and evaluated. Eleven subassemblage
column specimens were examined with different anchorage lengths, bar groupings, amount
of transverse steel, and externally applied axial force. Test results showed an increase in
anchorage capacity due to the presence of transverse steel and externally applied axial
force. Experimental results were compared with contemporary bridge and building design
specifications which do not currently account for the beneficial effects of column axial
force acting transverse to the splitting plane. A modification factor was developed to
account for the presence of axial force in determining the available anchorage capacity.
Results showed that the modified development length provided reasonable and
conservative prediction of the available capacity of straight flexural bar anchorages
terminating in column sections.