Revolutionizing Bridge Design: Steel-Free Decks Could Change Construction Forever!
Concrete slabs in bridges can support heavy loads without needing steel reinforcement if they are designed to use internal arching action effectively. Recent research in Canada has shown that steel-free deck slabs can be achieved by harnessing this arching action in both directions of the supporting beams. The Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code includes guidelines for designing these steel-free deck slabs, which have been successfully implemented in prototypes constructed in Canada.