• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.119-120
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• 2009

The Live load distribution factors currently used in the standard prestressed concrete I-girder bridge are just a reflection of overseas design standards. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an equation of the live load distribution factors fit for the design conditions of Korea, considering the standardized section and the design strength of concrete. In this study, the major variables to determine of distribution factors were selected and an equation of live load distribution factors was developed.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.91-101
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• 2008

Structural analysis models to develop live load distribution factors of simply supported prestressed concrete I-girder bridge should have the precision of the analysis results as well as modeling simplicity. This is due to the numerous frequency of structural analysis needed while developing live load distribution factors. In this study, an appropriate structural analysis model is selected by comparing previous researchs studies and models used in practical design. Also, the influence by the flexural stiffness of barrier and diaphragm on the live load distribution had been analyzed through comparing the numerical analysis and experimental tests. As a result, the model that the eccentric girder and the barrier and diaphragm are connected to the deck plate was appropriate in satisfying both accuracy and simplicity for structural analysis of simply supported prestressed concrete I-girder bridge. However, the barrier was analyzed to have insignificant influence on the live load distribution in spite of its variation of stiffness. The eccentric diaphragm showed little influence at 25% or higher of flexural stiffness. From the results, a model that the girder is rigidly connected to the deck plate in consideration of the eccentricity, the barrier is ignored and the whole section of diaphragm is supposed to be valid without eccentricity is decided as the most appropriate structural model to develop the live load distribution factors of simply supported prestressed concrete I-girder bridge in this study.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2005

Current bridge design codes do not clearly specify the girder distribution factors for continuous bridges. The objective of the paper is to validate the use of code-specified girder distribution factors for the continuous steel girder bridges, and to provide a basis for recommended girder distribution factors (GDF) for interior girders, suitable for evaluation of existing continuous steel girder bridges. This paper presents the procedure and results of 3-dimensional finite element analysis that were performed on five of continuous steel girder bridges to verify girder distribution factors. The analysis results showed that the live load moment distribution at the negative moment region is very similar to those at the positive moment region in continuous steel girder bridges. It was also found that the GDF's based on the strain values are similar to those based on the deflection. GDF's based on the deflection show marginally better distribution. The analysis results confirmed that the code specified GDF's for continuous steel girder birdges are very conservative.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.325-334
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• 2008

The standard prestressed concrete I-girder bridge (PSC I-girder bridge) is one of the most prevalent types for small and medium bridges in Korea. When determining the member forces in a section to assess the safety of girder in this type of bridge, the general practice is to use the simplified practical equations or the live load distribution factors proposed in design standards rather than the precise analysis through the finite element method or so. Meanwhile, the live load distribution factors currently used in Korean design practice are just a reflection of overseas research results or design standards without alterations. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an equation of the live load distribution factors fit for the design conditions of Korea, considering the standardized section of standard PSC I-girder bridges and the design strength of concrete. In this study, to develop an equation of the live load distribution factors, a parametric analysis and sensitivity analysis were carried out on the parameters such as width of bridge, span length, girder spacing, width of traffic lane, etc. As a result, the major variables to determine the size of distribution factors were girder spacing, overhang length and span length in case of external girders. For internal adjacent girders, the determinant factors were girder spacing, overhang length, span length and width of bridge. For internal girders, the factors were girder spacing, width of bridge and span length. Then, an equation of live load distribution factors was developed through the multiple linear regression analysis on the results of parametric analysis. When the actual practice engineers design a bridge with the equation of live load distribution factors developed here, they will determine the design of member forces ensuring the appropriate safety rate more easily. Moreover, in the preliminary design, this model is expected to save much time for the repetitive design to improve the structural efficiency of PSC I-girder bridges.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1667-1676
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• 2014

Because of the different flexural rigidity between longitudinal and transverse direction, orthotropic plate theory may be suitable for describing the behavior of composite deck. The ratio of flexural rigidity between longitudinal and transverse direction affects the live load moment. Because of the ratio of flexural rigidity of concrete unfilled steel grid deck has a direct relationship with main bearing bar spacing, it is concluded that the study for the distribution factor which is effected by main bearing bar spacing and aspect ratio is needed. In this study, evaluate the live load moment of concrete unfilled steel grid deck using the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification and presents the distribution coefficient equation for concrete unfilled steel grid deck.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.13 no.4 s.56
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• pp.180-187
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• 2009

The objective of this research is to verify the code-specified girder distribution factors (GDF) for continuous steel girder bridges by field testing. Previous analytical study revealed that current GDF's specified in AASHTO Standard and AASHTO LRFD, developed for the simple span bridges are conservative even for the continuous bridges. In this study, field tests were performed for three continuous steel girder bridges to validate the GDF's specified in the AASHTO codes. The results show that the code values are conservative when compared with field tests, and in some cases, too conservative. Also, strains measured from the field test are, in most cases, smaller than those expected from the analytical results. However, when the GDF's from measured strains are compared with GDF's from analysis, it is found that the analysis results are not conservative, and in some instance, the analytical results underestimate the actual GDF's, which can lead to a groundless notion of safety. In one case, test results showed that the code GDF's specified in AASHTO LRFD is too permissive. As a result, it is found that GDF's specified in AASHTO LRFD should be used with careful reservation.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2015

In this paper, the modified live-load and designed formula are studied according to the fact the highway bridge design specifications are recently revised. The two examples for composite steel plates and PSC girder bridges are studied. The envelope is analyzed with the finite element models and lateral load distribution method applying the existing highway bridge specification(2010), the newly revised highway bridge specification(2015) and AASHTO LRFD. In case of composite steel plates, length changes between spans are studied, and in case of PSC girder. changes of the number of cross-beams and spans, and span-lengths, are analyzed.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.3A
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• pp.161-169
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• 2012

This paper presents the safety and strength of simplified composite H-beam panel bridges (SCHPBs) using 3-dimentional finite-element program, ABAQUS (2007) and experimental tests. Two finite-element models (one-steel-girder-and-composite-deck model and four-steel-girder-and-wide-composite-deck model) were reviewed to predict the strength and load distribution factor (LDF) values of the composite bridges. Based on the results of the finite-element analyses, the behaviors of the two models were investigated, and deflection and strain gauges for the experimental specimens were set up to obtain the ultimate strengths and the LDF values. The ultimate strength of the one-steel-girder-and-composite-deck specimen was estimated to be 840 kN. The yield and plastic moments of the four-steel-girder-and-wide-composite-deck specimen were obtained to be 2.4 and 4.1 times the design moment based on the live loading condition of the Korea Bridge Design Specifications (2005). The SCHPB were found to have enough strength for safety under and after construction.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 2008

Underestimation of the capacity can have serious economic consequences, as deficient bridges must be posted, repaired or replaced. Accurate prediction of bridge behavior may allow for more bridges to remain in service with or without minor repairs. The presented research is focused on the reliability evaluation of the actual load carrying capacity of existing bridges based on the field testing. Reliability analysis is performed on 17 previously tested bridges. Bridges are first evaluated based on the code specified values and design resistance. However, after the field testing program, it is possible to apply the experimental results into the bridge reliability evaluation procedures. The girder distribution factors obtained from the tests are also applied in the reliability calculation. The results indicate that the reliability indices of selected bridges can be significantly increased due to the reduction of uncertainties without sacrificing the safety of structures, by including the result of field measurement data into calculation.