Shear Strength Analysis of Ultra High Performance Pre-cast PC Bridge Joint with Lateral Force and Joint Type

Failures of segmental bridges have been attributed to inadequate jointing techniques that led to corrosion of the post-tensioning tendons crossing the segments joints. The principal goal of this study is to evaluate the performance of the wet-jointed and epoxy-jointed match cast shear keys in terms of shear and ultimate strength. Furthermore, shear behavior and strength of shear key joints in ultra high performance precast concrete segmental bridges are experimentally examined to know their characteristics. According to the various shapes and types of shear key, load-displacement relations, cracking behavior, strength, fracture modes are studied, and several parameters which influence the mechanical behavior of the shear key joint are analyzed. From these test results, the optimum shape of shear key is proposed and the optimum type of jointing is reviewed to use as the guideline of design and analysis of a shear key joint.