ABSTRACT
In the case of a continuous girder, as shown in Figure 11.1, the zone close to the middle support area is in compression at the bottom and in tension at the top. The major tensile principal stress in the middle support area is about 45° downward from the supports. For longer-span bridges, girder height in the middle support areas can be designed taller than that in the middle span areas. In comparison, a cable-stayed bridge has a similar load distribution path to a prestressed concrete (PC)/reinforced concrete (RC) continuous bridge by replacing bent-up prestress tendons/rebars with external cables.
