Experimental manufacturing of pretensioned U-section prestressed concrete girders in Vietnam

In recent years, research and experimentation have been conducted on the development of U-section girders in Vietnam to increase the span length of girders. This type of girder could be applied in road bridges, railway bridges, or intersections due to its advantages, as it offers a lower height-section and reduces construction costs compared to I-section girders or Super-T girders. The maximum proposed length-span of a U-type girder is 60 meters, which is approximately 1.5 to 2 times longer than traditional prestressed concrete girders in Vietnam (I-section and Super-T types). This paper presents the concept design and the on-site manufacturing method for U-section girders, along with their application in Vietnam.