Time-dependent creep and shrinkage analysis of composite beams curved in-plan

This paper develops a numerical formulation for the time-dependent creep and shrinkage analysis of steel–concrete composite beams that are curved in-plan under conditions of service load. The creep behaviour of the concrete is considered by using the viscoelastic Wiechert model, in which the aging effect of the concrete is taken into account. The curved composite beam model that is developed also accounts for the partial shear interaction at the deck-girder interface in the tangential (or longitudinal) direction, as well as in the radial (or horizontal) direction, due to the flexibility of the shear connectors. Models based on the developed formulation are validated by comparisons with sophisticated and computationally intensive ABAQUS shell element models, and with available results reported in the literature. The effects of initial curvature and partial interaction on the time-dependent behaviour of curved composite beams are also illustrated in the examples.     

Seismic study of curved bridges using the Rayleigh-Ritz method

The determination of the static and seismic response of curved girder bridges is important and difficult. It is therefore the purpose of this paper to present a direct method for evaluating accurately the mode shapes and the final seismic actions of continuous curved girders supported on high piers, with minimum computation time, using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Application of the method, compared to the matrix technique, is presented in detail.     

基于板单元形函数的公路桥梁车桥耦合振动分析方法研究

为研究公路多片式梁桥的车桥耦合振动问题,提出一种基于矩形薄板形函数的车桥耦合振动分析方法.该方法以车轮与桥面接触点为界,将车桥耦合系统分为汽车与桥梁2个子系统,分别采用虚功原理与有限元法建立各自的运动方程,并通过车轮与桥面接触处的位移协调条件及车桥相互作用力的平衡关系相耦合,采用矩形薄板形函数实现车桥接触点位移与桥梁节点位移的联系以及车桥相互作用力的分配,通过迭代求解汽车和桥梁的运动方程得到其动力响应.根据分析方法的计算流程,编制了汽车 桥梁耦合系统的动力分析程序,并通过算例分析验证其可行性.研究结果表明,使用基于矩形薄板形函数的公路桥梁车桥耦合振动分析方法得到的车桥动力响应具有较好的精度,该方法具有广泛的适用性,可为多片式梁桥的车桥耦合振动分析提供一种新思路.     

Comparison of numerical techniques for 3D flutter analysis of cable-stayed bridges

This paper presents the results of a comparison study of the numerical techniques of structural and aerodynamic force models developed based on the spline finite strip method with the conventional finite element approach in three-dimensional flutter analysis of cable-stayed bridges. In the new formulation, the bridge girder is modelled by spline finite strips. The mass and stiffness properties of the torsional behaviour of complex bridge girder, which have a significant influence on the wind stability of long-span bridges, are modelled accurately in the formulation. The effects of the spatial variation of the aerodynamic forces can be taken into account in the proposed numerical model by distributing the loads to the finite strips modelling the bridge deck. The numerical example of a 423 m long-span cable-stayed bridge is presented in the comparison study. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed finite strip model are compared to the results obtained from the equivalent beam finite element models. The advantages and disadvantages of these different modelling schemes are discussed.     

Dynamic analysis of box girders with tee-stiffening using unconstrained optimization techniques

The paper presents a numerical procedure for dynamic analysis of box girders with tee-stiffeners utilizing unconstrained optimization techniques. Unlike the finite element or finite strip methods, the procedure does not require discretization to the whole structure, thus resulting in great savings in computational time. The potential and kinetic energy of the assembled structure is expressed in terms generalized functions that describe the longitudinal and transverse displacement profiles. The problem is then converted into uunconstrained optimization problem to determine the magnitude of the lowest natural frequency and the associated mode shape. Results are presented showing the sensitivity the natural frequency to the stiffener depth (d) and the flange width (b). It is shown that the number of longitudinal and transverse stiffeners largely influence the magnitude of the natural frequency (λ) of the box girder. Design guidelines are also provided to optimize the dynamic response of the structure. The procedure is very practical and can be utilized in the industry for the analysis of box girders.     

Reliability validation of multigirder steel bridges designed by LRFD

The reliability index is examined for steel girder highway bridges designed by AASHTO load and resistance factor design (LRFD) Strength I limit state. The reliability analysis is based on the extensive stochastic finite element method (SFEM). The SFEM takes advantages of the conventional advanced first-order second-moment in that it considers the mechanic connection between the critical member and other members in the whole structure. The bridges are modeled as grillage beam systems. Basic design variables include sectional properties and various dead and live loads. The results obtained in noncomposite steel bridges indicate that the reliability index is very sensitive to the lateral distribution of live loads. Consequently, a simplified method is used in the reliability analysis of composite steel bridges. This simplified method can avoid the complex computation in SFEM yet achieve good accuracy. Due to overestimating the lateral distribution of live loads, the Strength I limit state in AASHTO LRFD specifications results in a conservative design for flexure but not for shear.     

A thin-walled box beam finite element for curved bridge analysis

Practical design of single and multispan curved bridges requires an analysis procedure which is easy and economical to use, and provides a physical insight into structural response under general loading conditions. In the work presented, the thin-walled beam theory has been directly combined with the finite element technique to provide a new thin-walled box beam element. The beam element includes three extra degrees-of-freedom over the normal six degrees-of-freedom beam formulation, to take into account the warping and distortional effects as well as shear. The beam may be curved in space and variable cross-sections may be included. The performance of the box beam element has been compared favourably against results obtained from full 3D shell element analysis, differential equation solutions and experimental results.     

Curved girder bridge analysis

A Fourier Series Slope-Deflection Technique has been developed as a means of analyzing curved girder bridge systems, which may contain orthotropic decks. The technique incorporates both pure and warping torsional effects as well as bending effects. Girder deflections and internal forces are determined at any location along the respective girders. The resulting forces include bending moment, shear, pure torsion, warping torsion, and bimoment.

The entire slope-deflection analyses has been programmed for use on an IBM 7094 computer, FORTRAN IV language. The three programs for a (1) single span analysis, (2) two-span continuous structure, and (3) three-span continuous structure may be obtained from the authors.     

Dynamic response of highway girder bridges

The objective of the paper is to investigate the variation of dynamic loading of girder bridges with different girder number and span length due to several vehicles moving across rough bridge decks. Nine girder bridges with girder number ranging from four to eight and span length changing from 40 to 120 ft are designed based on the AASHTO standard highway bridges and modeled as grillage beam systems. The vehicle is simulated as a nonlinear vehicle model with 11 d.f. according to the HS20-44 truck design loading contained in the AASHTO specifications. Four types of road surface roughness generated from power spectral density function for very good, good, average and poor roads in accordance with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifications are used in this study. The maximum impact factors of different girders of bridges are obtained for different number of loading trucks (side by side), road surface roughnesses, transverse loading positions and the vehicle speeds changing from 15 to 75 mph. The conclusions reached in this study are useful in the further study of the impact of highway bridges and for practical bridge design engineers.     

Curved box beam bridge analysis

A finite difference procedure is used to determine the response of a single and multi span curved single box beam bridge with any number of interior diaphragms. The bending and torsional distortions as well as cross-sectional distortions are determined throughout the box girder. The forces that are determined include bending moment and shear, pure torsion, warping torsion, and bimoment. These forces, in addition to distortional functions, yield resulting normal bending, normal warping, and normal distortional stresses.The entire analysis scheme has been programmed for use on an UNIVAC 1108 computer, FORTRAN IV language, as given herein.     

基于ANSYS的大跨预应力混凝土桥梁空间仿真方法

针对大跨预应力混凝土(Prestressed Concrete,PC)桥梁经常发生梁体开裂的问题,对ANSYS进行二次开发,实现大跨PC桥梁参数化实体建模,解决大跨PC桥梁空间仿真中变截面箱梁参数化建模、复杂预应力钢束参数化建模、高精度单元网格划分和施工过程仿真等几个关键技术问题,提出基于ANSYS的桥梁空间分析整套技术流程.利用所提出的技术路线对某大跨PC连续梁进行施工过程仿真分析,验证该技术的可行性.     

Improved system buckling analysis of effective lengths of girder and tower members in steel cable-stayed bridges

This paper proposes an iterative system buckling analysis to determine reasonable effective lengths of girder and tower members in steel cable-stayed bridges. The modifications include the addition of a fictitious axial force to the geometric stiffness matrix with iterative eigenvalue computations. After verifying the proposed method by analyzing steel frames, we apply it to cable-stayed bridges with different center spans and girder depths. The effective lengths of members in these example bridges by the proposed method are compared with those found using conventional buckling analysis. The effects of the proposed method on slenderness ratios and compressive strengths are also discussed.     

Application of the spline finite strip to the analysis of shear-deformable plates

A spline finite strip is proposed to analyse thick isotropic or laminated composite plates. The formulation is based upon the principle of virtual work and the third-order plate theory developed by Reddy. The variational functional requires the satisfaction of C₁,-continuity of the assumed vertical deflection variable which can be easily fulfilled by the present method. The proposed spline finite strip is a conforming element with a smaller number of unknowns at each node compared to other existing elements based on the third-order theory. For the analysis of thin isotropic or laminated plates, the present element shows no sign of shear locking. A number of computational examples are given to demonstrate the efficiency and the accuracy of the present method.     

Development of computational software for analysis of curved girders under construction loads

The analysis of horizontally curved, trapezoidal steel girders presents a variety of computational challenges. During the erection and construction stages before a concrete deck is available to form a closed section, these girders are weak in torsion and susceptible to warping. Considering the design of an entire bridge system, current design approaches favor the use of a grid analysis methodology. While the use of a grid analysis procedure offers the advantage of computational efficiency, it is unable to capture girder stresses and brace member forces with sufficient accuracy, particularly during the critical erection and construction stages. In this paper, we present an alternative analysis approach based on the finite element method. The developed software has been designed to be computationally efficient and easy to use for bridge designers.     

The application of the thin-walled box beam element to multibox bridge analysis

An application of the recently developed thin-walled box beam element to the analysis of multibox bridges which arises in practical design, is presented. The thin-walled box beam element, which also takes account of warping distortional effects, when combined with traditional beam elements into a grillage model may adequately represent the three-dimensional behaviour of multibox superstructure. Equivalent sectional properties for the transverse grillage members across individual boxes are computed from a frame analysis. A numerical iterative procedure is introduced to take account of the interaction due to distortion.Comparisons with other numerical methods and model experiments demonstrate the accuracy and economy of the proposed method.     

箱形梁结构船体水下非接触爆炸冲击环境分析

为研究箱形梁结构船体在水下非接触爆炸作用下的冲击环境,在船体中部范围内主要受力部位设置箱形梁,并与考虑箱形梁产生的质量变化而建立的等重船模进行对比,来描述箱形梁结构对冲击环境的影响.基于Abaqus中的声固耦合算法求解2种形式船体的冲击响应,以冲击谱为工具描述船体结构的冲击环境,并给出舱内甲板层的冲击环境分布.分析归纳箱形梁的作用机理,为相关舰船设备的舾装与船体优化设计提供参考.     

Design/analysis of curved box girder bridges

A computer program has been developed which will automatically design or analyze simple or multispan composite or non-composite steel box girder bridges for highway systems. Complete force and stress envelopes are presented in addition to comparative AASHTO code requirements. Influences due to distortion and warping are included in the analytical technique.     

Application of the compound strip method for the analysis of slab-girder bridges

The compound strip method is illustrated for the analysis of slab-girder bridges modeled as a linear elastic plate continuous over deflecting supports. This approach incorporates the effects of support elements in a direct stiffness methodology by creating a substructure composed of plate. beam. and column elements which is termed a “compound strip.” The theory and application of the compound strip method is presented. The finite element and compound strip methods are compared in an illustrative analysis for a slab-girder bridge. The results of the compound strip analysis compare well with the finite element method. The methodology presented herein can be used to efficiently model any slab-girder bridge configuration. Typically, the compound strip method requires significantly less computational resources than does the finite element method and is well suited for use on today's microcomputers.     

Direct stiffness analysis of a composite beam-column element with partial interaction

This paper presents a stiffness formulation for the analysis of composite steel–concrete beam-columns with partial shear interaction (PI). This formulation is based on the direct stiffness method (DSM). The advantage of the proposed method is that no approximated displacement and/or force fields are introduced in the element derivation, unlike other modelling techniques available in the literature. Some simple structural systems, such as simply supported beams and propped cantilevers, subjected to a point load and to a uniformly distributed load are then considered to validate the accuracy of the results obtained using the proposed formulation against results derived based on closed form solutions; for continuous beams, the results have been validated against those calculated using highly refined mesh of high order finite elements. This has been carried out for different levels of shear connection stiffness to highlight the ability of the proposed method to overcome the curvature locking problems observed in some conventional displacement formulations. The generic applicability of this technique to the analysis of continuous beams is then illustrated, in particular, highlighting its ability to account for material nonlinearities at both service and ultimate conditions.