December 3, 2025Open Access

Structural Effects of Concrete Creep in a Prestressed Balanced Cantilever Bridge Based on Classical and Fractional Rheological Models

KNKerstin NowakWarsaw University of Technology ROR. OleszekWarsaw University of Technology

Key Points

Creep can significantly change internal forces in prestressed bridge structures, affecting performance over time.
Key effects emerge from fractional-order models and linear elasticity theory, urging careful model selection.
Observational analysis using rheological models demonstrates importance of accurately predicting concrete behavior under stress.
Highlights the need for advanced calculations in bridge design to ensure structural integrity over time.

Abstract

This paper discusses the phenomenon of concrete creep and its impact on bridge structures, with particular emphasis on the mechanical models used to describe it. Classical rheological models, such as the Maxwell and Kelvin–Voigt, along with their generalized and fractional extensions incorporating fractional-order derivatives, are presented. These models differ in their complexity and in the accuracy of fit to laboratory test results. The use of non-classical, fractional-order rheological models (the fractional Kelvin–Voigt model and the fractional Zener model) enables better model fitting. The paper further describes methods for estimating creep effects in bridge design. The most popular is the effective modulus method, which is easy to implement but does not account for the load application history. More accurate approaches (e.g., Trost, Bažant, incremental method according to linear elasticity theory) are based on iterative procedures and require advanced computer implementation. The consequences of creep in bridge structures are highlighted: geometric (changes in elevation) and static (redistribution of internal forces and support reactions, changes in sectional stresses). These effects are particularly important in structures erected in stages, such as bridges built using the balanced cantilever method. The analytical section presents the influence of various creep models on changes in static quantities for a three-span prestressed bridge constructed by the cantilever method. The importance of proper selection of the creep model for the accuracy of engineering calculations and for the correct assessment of the long-term behavior of the structure is emphasized.

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