Width and Edge Beam Effects on the Ultimate Behaviour of RC Bridge Overhangs

The bearing capacity of RC overhangs under concentrated loads can be dependent on the width of the slab. The goal of this paper is to investigate the effect of different widths using tests from the literature and non-linear FE-simulations as a reference. Shear force redistributions along the loading process and the shear concrete capacity are analysed. The shear effective width and the influence of an edge beam are also addressed. The results show that the bearing capacity of RC overhangs increase with the width until a transition area is reached and the increase flattens. An increased shear distribution sideways and posterior redistributions under the loading process are enabled. The shear capacity of concrete increases with the width and for loads close to the root an arch effect is observed. The edge beam contributes to a further increase of the ultimate capacity for wide enough overhangs. The effect of the width and the edge beam is not only quantitative but also qualitative since the failure mode and the critical section are influenced. Existing formulation for shear effective widths should be revisited. Experimental tests used for this purpose should consider wide enough specimens to capture the real behaviour of a bridge overhang slab.