Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
Time-Dependent Creep and Shrinkage Effects on Pre-stressed Concrete Bridge Decks
Abstract
Time-dependent deformation of pre-stressed concrete bridge decks due to creep and shrinkage represents one of the most critical serviceability challenges in structural bridge engineering. This study presents a comprehensive analytical and numerical investigation of long-term deformation behaviour in post-tensioned and pre-tensioned concrete bridge decks, with emphasis on the interdependence between sustained compressive stresses, moisture migration, and the resulting prestress losses. The research synthesises established creep prediction models — including the CEB-FIP Model Code 2010, ACI 209R-92, and the B3 model by Bazant and Baweja — and extends their application to realistic South Sudanese and tropical East African environmental conditions, characterised by high ambient temperatures and variable relative humidity. Finite element analyses employing time-stepping algorithms are utilised to simulate stress redistribution, midspan deflection evolution, and long-term camber decay over a 100-year service life. Results indicate that uncorrected creep-induced deflections can exceed serviceability limits (L/250) within 15 to 25 years in hot-arid conditions, and that cumulative prestress losses from time-dependent effects can range between 14% and 22% of the initial jacking force. Five parametric sensitivity analyses identify relative humidity, age at loading, and the notional section size as dominant contributors to deformation variability. Three design recommendations — including enhanced humidity correction factors and revised partial coefficients for tropical climates — are proposed to supplement current design practice. This paper provides a rigorous, quantitatively grounded framework for e ngineers designing long-span pre-stressed bridge decks in sub-Saharan Africa.
Read the Full Article
The HTML galley is loaded below for inline reading and better discovery.
How to Cite
Keywords
Research Snapshot
Desktop reading viewReferences
- Abdullahi, M., Ozims, U. A., & Al-Mattarneh, H. (2019). Creep of concrete in tropical climate: field measurements and code predictions. Construction and Building Materials, 218, 310–320.
- ACI Committee 209. (1992). Prediction of Creep, Shrinkage, and Temperature Effects in Concrete Structures (ACI 209R-92). American Concrete Institute.
- Bazant, Z. P. (1972). Prediction of concrete creep effects using age-adjusted effective modulus method. ACI Journal Proceedings, 69(4), 212–217.
- Bazant, Z. P., & Baweja, S. (1995). Creep and shrinkage prediction model for analysis and design of concrete structures: Model B3. Materials and Structures, 28, 357–365.
- British Standards Institution. (2004). Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures — Part 2: Bridges (EN 1992-2). BSI.
- fib (International Federation for Structural Concrete). (2013). fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010. Ernst & Sohn, Berlin.
- Gilbert, R. I., & Mickleborough, N. C. (1990). Design of Prestressed Concrete. Unwin Hyman, London.
- Gilbert, R. I., & Ranzi, G. (2011). Time-Dependent Behaviour of Concrete Structures. Spon Press, London.
- Guo, T., Frangopol, D. M., Chen, Y., & Zhang, W. (2020). Monitoring of creep and shrinkage in large-scale post-tensioned concrete girders under field conditions. Engineering Structures, 207, 110251.
- Lin, T. Y., & Burns, N. H. (1981). Design of Prestressed Concrete Structures (3rd ed.). Wiley, New York.
- Magura, D. D., Sozen, M. A., & Siess, C. P. (1964). A study of stress relaxation in prestressing reinforcement. PCI Journal, 9(2), 13–57.
- Nawy, E. G. (2010). Prestressed Concrete: A Fundamental Approach (5th ed.). Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
- Neville, A. M. (2011). Properties of Concrete (5th ed.). Pearson Education, Harlow.
- Ranisch, E. H. (1982). Redistribution of moments in continuous pre-stressed concrete structures due to creep. Beton- und Stahlbetonbau, 77(11), 283–288.
- Wong, S. F., & Wee, T. H. (2000). Shrinkage of high-strength concrete in a tropical environment. Magazine of Concrete Research, 52(4), 293–302.
- World Bank. (2022). South Sudan Infrastructure Assessment Report. World Bank Group, Washington, D.C.
- Dilger, W. H. (1982). Creep analysis of prestressed concrete structures using creep-transformed section properties. PCI Journal, 27(1), 98–118.
- CEN. (2004). Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures — Part 1-1: General Rules (EN 1992-1-1). European Committee for Standardization.
- Trost, H. (1967). Implications of the superposition principle for creep and relaxation problems in concrete and reinforced concrete. Beton- und Stahlbetonbau, 62(10), 230–238.
- Branson, D. E. (1977). Deformation of Concrete Structures. McGraw-Hill, New York.
- Comite Euro-International du Beton. (1978). CEB-FIP Model Code 1978 for Concrete Structures. CEB, Lausanne.
- Bažant, Z. P., & Panula, L. (1980). Creep and shrinkage characterization for analyzing prestressed concrete structures. PCI Journal, 25(3), 86–122.
- Elices, M., Planas, J., & Guinea, G. V. (1992). Shrinkage eigenstresses in concrete beams: analytical and numerical analysis. Cement and Concrete Research, 22(1), 77–94.
- Ozbolt, J., & Reinhardt, H. W. (2001). Sustained loading strength of concrete: modelling and experiments. Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, 1(2), 143–152.
- Tadayon, M. H., Khaloo, A. R., & Amini, E. (2011). Long-term deflection of reinforced concrete beams: combined effects of creep, shrinkage and non-linear cracking. Magazine of Concrete Research, 63(9), 667–678.
- Copyright © 2024 Aduot Madit Anhiem. This is an open-access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
- Page | | DOI: https://doi.org/10.XXXXX/ajamates.XXXX.XXXX