EFFECTIVE FLANGE WIDTH

[ROBCROG]

how does AASHTO provide for the effective flange width of a steel beam or girder bridge that does not have the required effective flange width along the outside coping beam? Can a designer still use the total effective flange width even if it is not centered on the beam? Is it the designer's responsibility to make sure that this width is provided at the outside coping? Has anyone seen a girder described in AASHTO 10.38.3.2 having only a flange on one side and where would a designer use such a section?

 

[curvbridger]

To determine the effective composite flange width of the outside girder, add the overhang deck width (from centerline of the web) to the controlling value from 1996 AASHTO 10.38.3.2 (i.e., half the distance to the adjacent beam, six times the deck thickness, or one twelfth of the span). This width does not have to be "centered" on the web, but if you have significant flaring or odd framing, be careful not to oversimplify...use a grid analysis.

curvbridger