FIGURE 1 Standard section details
Prestressed bridge planks are manufactured to RTA Specifications. Standard section details are shown in FIGURE 1 and the corresponding properties in TABLE 1. They are used with an insitu concrete deck acting compositely with the planks.
For standard highway loadings, they are suitable for use up to the spans shown in TABLE 1. For secondary bridges, jetties and other applications, they may be used for greater spans, depending on the loading and design criteria.
The disbanding of the RTA Bridge Section has seen the loss of one of Australia's most experienced group of bridge engineers. Much of this work is now being let to consultants and we implore them to understand the existing RTA designs before deviating from standard practice.
TABLE 1 Section properties