Specifications and guidelines for the design of curved steel girder bridges

Abstract

This paper succinctly outlines the evolution of curved girder design specifications from the 1980 AASHTO Guide Specifications for Horizontally Curved Girders through to the LRFD provisions for curved girder design accepted for inclusion in the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications at the June 2004 meeting of the Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures. The multi-path approach to develop the background for these specifications is described, and some of the more significant changes to the design process are outlined.