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Design and Detailing of Approach Slabs

Approach slabs are reinforced concrete slabs located between roadways and bridges that allow for smooth traffic flow. They are designed to be simply supported over a span of 90% of their length to account for live and dead loads. Approach slabs are detailed to allow rotation at supports without concrete damage and deck joints accommodate vertical movement. A bed of crushed rock and edge beams reinforce the slabs, and sub-surface drains prevent water from causing pavement settling at slab edges.

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Isaac Mureithi Maina
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702 views

Design and Detailing of Approach Slabs

Approach slabs are reinforced concrete slabs located between roadways and bridges that allow for smooth traffic flow. They are designed to be simply supported over a span of 90% of their length to account for live and dead loads. Approach slabs are detailed to allow rotation at supports without concrete damage and deck joints accommodate vertical movement. A bed of crushed rock and edge beams reinforce the slabs, and sub-surface drains prevent water from causing pavement settling at slab edges.

Uploaded by

Isaac Mureithi Maina
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Approach slab or transition slab, a reinforced concrete slab located between a roadway and bridge

abutments or culverts or behind a retaining wall to permit a smooth transit of traffic is designed.
Design and detailing of approach slabs
Approach slabs are designed for vehicle live load and dead load assuming they are simply
supported with a span of 0.9 times length. Approach slabs are then detailed to provide fixity at
the support, but allowing rotation without concrete spalling of the slab or support.
One side of the bridge deck joints is fixed to the approach slab, and the type of deck joint
should have capacity for rotation and vertical movement (uplift) compatible with expected
settlement of the approach slab.
The design provides adequate lateral clearances from other parts of the structure (e.g. from
wing walls) to allow settlement of approach slabs. The gaps between approach slabs and wing
walls are sealed to prevent entry of drainage water.
A bedding layer consisting of 150 mm of compacted crushed rock is used under approach slabs,
and an edge beam or additional reinforcement is used on the transverse free edge.
Drainage
Pavement settlement is a common problem at the end of approach slabs due to the entry of water in
the interface between the pavement and approach slab. A sub-surface drain should be installed at
this location unless specified otherwise.

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