Service Load Behavior of Continuous Composite Beams with Precast Decks Considering Creep, Shrinkage and Cracking

Systematic studies are reported for the service load behavior of continuous beams withprecast decks. A hybrid procedure recently developed by the authors has been used forcarrying out the studies. The procedure accounts for creep, shrinkage and progressivecracking of concrete of the decks. The age of concrete at the time of loading, magnitude of load, grade of concrete, relative humidity and tension stiffening are the parameters whose effects have been studied on the bending moments at the supports and midspan deflections. The relative humidity is found to be the more significant parameter affecting the timedependent changes, in bending moments at supports and midspan deflections.