• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.237-250
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• 2003

Since an orthotropic steel deck bridge has large number of design variables and shows complex structural behavior, it would be very difficult and impractical to directly use a Conventional Single Level (CSL) optimization algorithm for its optimum design. Thus, in this paper, an Improved Multi Level Design Synthesis (IMLDS) optimization algorithm is proposed to improve the computational efficiency. In the proposed IMLDS algorithm, a coordination method is introduced to divide the bridge into main girders and orthotropic steel deck with preserving the characteristics of the structural behavior. For an efficient optimization of the bridge, the IMLDS algorithm incorporates the various crucial approximation techniques such as constraints deletion, Automatic Differentiation (AD), stress reanalysis, and etc. In the case of orthotropic steel deck system, optimum design problems are characterized by mixed continuous discrete variables and discontinuous design space. Thus, a modified Genetic Algorithm (GA) is also applied to optimize discrete member design for orthotropic steel deck. From the numerical example, the efficiency and convergency of the IMLDS algorithm proposed in this paper is investigated. It may be positively stated that the IMLDS algorithm will lead to more effective and practical design compared with previous algorithms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2006

This study was conducted to improve the design and construction technique of orthotropic steel-deck bridges. After conducting an F.E.M. analysis of the various rib types of the connection details, static and fatigue tests were conducted, using a three-dimensional, full-scaled, orthotropic, steel-deck-plate model with internal diaphrams, to check the fatigue strength depending on the types of details. The model structure was made of two types of longitudinal ribs: the domestic standard and the European rabbit types. The fatigue strength of the steel-deck system was found to have improved through the installation of an internal diaphram, as no cracks were found on the bottom round part of the scallop with a diaphram. There were no differences between the domestic and the European types of details in terms of strength may be partially influenced by the shape of the scallop and by the installation of an internal diaphram, but it can be improved more significantly according to the quality of the welding that will be done.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2004

An orthotropic steel deck system is widely adapted form for a long-span bridge. It has many advantages, such as the big reduction of dead weight, the simplicity for erection, and the reduction of the construction period. However, an orthotropic steel deck system requires a lot of welding work, which may result in defects and deformation of connection. Therefore, the research for the general behavior and fatigue strength of the several details in orthotropic steel deck bridge is necessary. The fatigue failure with distortion results from secondary stress by out-of-plane deformation; these kinds of cracks are very difficult to measure, and can not be precisely calculated through finite element analysis. This stress concentration phenomenon generates the fatigue failure around the lower scallop of the transverse rib. This paper presents improved details of the intersection between the longitudinal rib and the transverse rib of an orthotropic steel deck bridge by the third dimensional hit size test, and the finite element method, which can minimize local stress through parametric study.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.333-340
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• 2004

The use of the othotropic steel deck is steadily increased due to the advance of the technology in the steel bridges which recently have been longer. But the othotropic steel deck bridge is the structure that is very fragile to the fatigue, especially, the fatigue crack at the cross of the longitudinal rib and transversal rib is one of the biggest problems that othotropic steel deck bridges have. The causes of these fatigue cracks come from the secondary stress on out-plane behavior of transversal rib. In this study, we conducted the experiment to find the optimal details to improve fatigue strength on intersection between longitudinal rib and transversal rib in the othotropic steel deck bridge through numerical analysis using the experiment of the fatigue in the 3-dimensional real structure and program LUSAS. As a result of study, it is showed that the details of the korean standard section attached with a curved bulkhead plate is the most profitable. And, it is indicated that the stress which is generated when the reform improved section by parametic study can be reduced by about 50% at most or more. Along with the reduced stress and the longer interval between transversal ribs(G=400), the decreased steel amount by 4% and the shortened welding length by 34% make it possible to produce the othotropic steel deck bridge which is strong against fatigue.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.451-461
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• 2013

In steel bridges, there are several details that constrain the deformation such as buckling by external forces. Most of these details which are composed of the intersection members have scallops in order to exclude the weld defects inherently and to get the ease of fabrication and also to decrease the stress concentration. In this study, stress relief hole (SRH) near stress concentration zone with detail category D or under is proposed as a method to improve the resistance on the fatigue crack initiation to detail category C. And the effects of the appropriate size and location of SRH were examined and the applicability to improve the fatigue resistance of the floorbeam web and the rib wall at rib/floorbeam intersection in the orthotropic steel deck bridge was evaluated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.419-430
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• 2014

On going researches which are being made on the welded joints at the intersections of closed ribs such as U-ribs with floor-beams in ortho-tropic steel decks still have been used the shape of scallops with or with not diaphragm inside. Stress Relief Hole(SRH) being presented in this study was investigated in order to reduce the fatigue damage in the intersections of U-rib with floor-beam. Finally, it is verified that circular SRHs sufficiently relief the concentration stress at the intersections of U-rib with floor-beam and shows that SRH can be offer one of the methods that can prevent the fatigue damage in these structural details.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.417-426
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• 2006

Various fatigue damages have been reported in orthotropic steel deck structures put upon girders. These damages are caused by complex behaviors of the deck, which is directly subjected to vehicle loads. To estimate the causes of fatigue cracks at the welded connected parts of the trough rib and the flor beam, and the trough rib and the deck plate, in orthotropic steel deck structures, FE analyses were first, performed in this study. Parameter studies were carried out to suggest effective structural details that consider fatigue, in which the main parameters are the thickness of the deck plate, the shape of the connection of the trough rib and the flor beam such as the slit form, and the welding length. This study suggests that the effective structural details improved the fatigue strength and discusses.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.443-451
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• 2007

The improvement of stiffness by the increase of thickness of deck plate or the reinforcement of longitudinal rib is one method among the effective methods to control fatigue damages occurring in orthotropic steel deck. It is likely that the increase of stiffness is effective to restrain local deformation caused by axial load in the steel deck. Therefore, in this study, the parameter studies for the reinforced structural details such as the bulk-head plate and vertical rib which is established to reduce the resultant stresses in the connection parts of the longitudinal rib and floor beam were performed with FE analysis. From the results, it was known that the reinforced structural detail with the bulk-head plate in the longitudinal ribs reduced overall the principal stresses at the connection parts, but the stress concentration increased in the weld toe parts which are occurring fatigue cracks. Also, it was estimated that the reinforced structural detail with the vortical rib in the longitudinal ribs because of the reduction of stress concentration in the weld toe parts is more effective details than the bulk-head plate.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.1084-1089
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• 2004

Recently, Orthotropic steel deck bridges, which have long span decks, have been regarded as one of economical as well as durable bridge types. However, Orthotropic steel deck bridge is used by a lot of welding, which may cause welding defect and deformation of connections. This kind of system happens some damages by the fatigue cracks of welding. The cross-connection of longitudinal rib and transversal rib is one of the weakest point because of the fatigue. The secondary stresses which are from the out-plane deformation of transversal rib and the torsion of longitudinal rib make the topical stress concentration phenomenon. But, it is principle that a Bulkhead Plate is not established in the domestic design standard. Therefore, it is estimated that a study for the installing of Bulkhead Plate is needed. This study with considering these circumstances proves efficiency of Bulkhead Plate and will be presented optimal design details through finite element analysis according to change the geometrical system of Bulkhead Plate and the cross-connection area of longitudinal and transversal rib

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2000.04b
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• pp.439-448
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• 2000

A multi-level design synthesis (MLDA) algorithm for efficiently optimizing orthotropic steel deck bridges is proposed in the paper, because it is usually very difficult to optimize orthotropic steel deck bridges using a conventional single-level (CSL) algorithn since the bridges have a large number of members and show complex structural behaviors. In the proposed MLDS algorithms a coordination method is introduced to divide the bridges into main girders and orthotropic steel decks and decomposition method is also used to reduce the number of design variables of the decks for system level optimization. For efficient optimization of the bridges the MLDS algorithm incorporates the crucial approximation techliques such as constraints deletion and stress reanalysis. The constraint deletion technique for deflection is found to be very useful for the optimization problem of the bridges, since a deflection constraint is usually inactive in the design. Considering the complex system of the bridges, the proposed the efficient stress reanalysis technique may prove to be a very effective method, since it does not require expensive design sensitivity analyses. The applicability and robustness of the MLDS algorithm is demonstrated using various numerical examples and compared with other algorithm presently available so far.