Approach zone of parametric analysis for hardness mitigation of connection

접속부의 강성완화를 위한 Approach zone의 매개분석

When vehicles pass the connection between the bridge and earthwork, the difference of both sections' stiffness produces an increasing wheelload. As a consequence, it results in the excessive vibration of vehicles and the damage of bearing system. In general, steel plate girder railway bridges without ballast track have larger stiffness than the bridge with ballast, and produces larger impulse on the bridge superstructure. Thus, it is necessary to reduce the differences of both stiffness. This study presents parametric studies on the behavior of plate girder bridges and their tracks by means of various stiffnesses and the length of approach zone. The results of numerical study showed that the smaller the stiffness of both sides and the longer the length of approach zone, the variation of wheelload becomes smaller. Hence, it gives less burden into the plate girder bridges and their tracks. It is expected that the results of parametric study can be used as a preliminary data for the determination of economical length on the approach zone and the stiffness of both sides.