Introduction of Grade 300 Prestressing Strand into Prestressed Concrete Bridge Girders

About the project:

Grade 300 strand minimum breaking strength of 300 ksi and the 1 % elongation stress are both 10 % higher than the respective values for Grade 270 strand. This implies that a 10 % increase in allowable jacking stresses in the strand is appropriate. The benefit to VDOT will be in the ratio of area of prestressing strand to prestress force, i.e., it will take less strand to achieve the same amount of prestressing force with Grade 300 strand. To achieve the same span lengths and transverse girder spacings less strand will be required, hence, lower labor costs in the prestressing plant. Longer span lengths and/or larger transverse girder spacings can be achieved by the increased prestress force capacity in girders, especially when combined with higher strength concretes.

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