Abstract
An effective width formula for crack width evaluation in negative bending moment regions near internal supports of continuous composite girder bridges is proposed. The formula takes account of shear-lag effect and includes cracking effect in concrete slabs of composite bridges. A parametric study of 3D nonlinear FE analyses for composite bridges with span lengths ranging from 30 to 60 m are carried out to develop the formula. Since the effective width varies depending on the strain level of concrete slabs due to nonlinear effects, a modification equation of the effective width is proposed as well.
