EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF CONNECTORS FOR BRIDGE REINFORCEMENT

The main objective of this investigation was to study experimentally t he behaviour of mechanical Links installed between the concrete slab a nd the steel beams to reinforce steel bridges with noncomposite concre te slabs. Twenty-one push-out tests were carried out on prestressed st eel, rods, mechanical anchors, chemical anchors, and Kwik-bolt dowels manufactured by Hilti. The parameters considered were the connector di ameter, the prestress applied, and the concrete compressive strength. The results showed that in comparison to the prestressed rods, the mec hanical anchors have a 60% higher ultimate strength and a ductility 3 to 4 times larger. When prestressed rods are used, the friction coeffi cient required can be in the order of 0.55. When mechanical anchors ar e used, a friction coefficient of 0.35 is considered safe. The study l ed to the conclusion that the equations given by Hilti and by the stan dards CAN/CSA-S6-M88 of the Canadian Standard Association and OHBDC 93 of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation can predict with sufficient accuracy the shear resistance and sliding resistance of the connector s.