Precast concrete construction--Fatigue

The automation of retaining structure selection and design by utilizing artificial intelligence tools is presented herein. The study involved the development of a microcomputer based expert system, RESTEX (REtaining STructure EXpert). The modules of the expert systems RETAININGEARTH, with M.1 knowledge base, and REFLEXYS have been updated and the resulting RESTEX modules are written in C using Exsys Professional for high speed and efficient utilization of memory. RESTEX is an interactive menu-driven system consisting of modules for Structure Selection, Preliminary Design, Soils Classification, Stability Analysis, and Reinforcement Design. The system is capable of performing selection, analysis, and design of gravity walls, cantilever walls, counterfort walls, reinforced earth, gabion, cantilever and anchored sheet piles.

The behavior of a precast single-cell segmental box bridge with external post-tensioning is studied based on a 1:3.5 scale model of the Long Key bridge in the Florida Keys. Constant amplitude fatigue loading was applied on the model at a critical location simulating HS20-44 AASHTO truck loading. The performance of the bridge model was evaluated in terms of deflections, strains in concrete and across the joints, and behavior of joints between the segments with increasing number of cycles of fatigue loading. Thermal response of the bridge model was also studied using finite element analysis and the predicted temperature distributions were compared with the experimental values.