ABSTRACT
Multi-girder steel highway bridges include deck overhangs to enable effective use of deck width with the least number of girders. During deck placement, overhang concrete is often supported by temporary falsework and brackets that are supported by the exterior girder top flange and web. Frequently, overhang brackets also support walkway and screed machines. Such construction practices introduce eccentric loads and associated displacements that may result in unintended deck profile and poor ride quality. This article describes deck placement practices on steel I-girder bridges, potential problems associated with such practice, and construction and design practices for mitigating such challenges. The review of literature indicated the need of developing a rational procedure for calculating web out-of-plane deformation due to overhang bracket load. To fill the knowledge gap, this article presents a procedure based on the thin plate theory.
