EN 1994-2: Overview of Composite Bridge Design, the UK NA for EN 1994-2 and PD 6696-2

The objective of this paper is to give the background to the development of the National Annex to BS EN 1994-2 and the development of the provisions of PD 6696-2: Background paper to BS EN 1994-2 and the UK National Annex to BS EN 1994-2. In producing the National Annex, the relevant clauses in the Eurocodes were reviewed, comparing them against clauses in the UK bridges standard BS 5400 and other published national and international standards. Where significant discrepancy with existing practice was revealed, further justification was sought from other research material and the Eurocode clauses were then accepted or amended to suit. The PD document was prepared with two primary objectives in mind:

(i) Provision of information on topics not covered by EN 1994.

(ii) Provision of guidance where it was considered further explanation of the Eurocode provisions was desirable for their correct and consistent application.

The source of much of this material was the Designers’ Guide to EN1994-2, Eurocode 4: Design of composite steel and concrete composite structures. Part 2: General rules and rules for bridges, but other sources were also used.