ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Pretensioned precast concrete U-shaped girders have been recently used in the construction of railway bridge decks. Owing to the favorable effects of concrete creep and shrinkage deformations, the continuity between spans can be established without continuity prestress, which offers constructive and economic advantages. In this case, the possibility and influence of cracking has to be assessed. The present paper discusses the cyclic behavior of these structures, considering the repeated action of railway traffic loads, with due account of the influence of cracking.
