ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The design of “depth-critical” steel superstructures for even simple span bridges is an emerging design concept for many engineers today and is inadequately explained in theAASHTO LRFD Bridge Design or Construction Specifications. Traditional empirical design assumptions as presented in the AASHTO Specifications do not necessarily apply to slender beams which require large cambers and specialized sequences of construction. Shallow girder design will only continue to rise in popularity for situations in which designers are forced to provide additional roadway underclearance where functionally obsolete bridges are replaced, or where construction of a new bridge requires spanning longer over widened roadways without the addition of a pier. The content of this paper addresses the unique concerns of designing steel bridges for minimum superstructure depth through the discussion of a shallow single span bridge which was successfully designed and constructed.
