• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.657-670
• /
• 2021

This paper presents a designing method for enhancing fire resistance of steel box bridge girders (closed steel box bridge girder supporting a thin concrete slab) through taking into account such parameters namely; fire severity, type of longitudinal stiffeners (I, L, and T shaped), and number of longitudinal stiffeners. A validated 3-D finite element model, developed through the computer program ANSYS, is utilized to go over the fire response of a typical steel box bridge girder using the transient thermo-structural analysis method. Results from the numerical analysis show that fire severity and type of longitudinal stiffeners welded on bottom flange have significant influence on fire resistance of steel box bridge girders. T shaped longitudinal stiffeners applied on bottom flange can highly prevent collapse of steel box bridge girders towards the end of fire exposure. Increase of longitudinal stiffeners on bottom flange and web can slightly enhance fire resistance of steel box bridge girders. Rate of deflection-based criterion can be reliable to evaluate fire resistance of steel box bridge girders in most fire exposure cases. Thus, T shaped longitudinal stiffeners on bottom flange incorporated into bridge fire-resistance design can significantly enhance fire resistance of steel box bridge girders.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.419-430
• /
• 2023

This paper is aimed at investigating the effect of multiple longitudinal stiffeners on the patch loading resistance of slender steel plate girders. Firstly, a numerical study is conducted through geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis with imperfections included (GMNIA), the model is validated with experimental results taken from the literature. The structural responses of girders with multiple longitudinal stiffeners are compared to the one of girders with a single longitudinal stiffener. Thereafter, a patch loading resistance model is developed through machine learning (ML) using symbolic regression (SR). An extensive numerical dataset covering a wide range of bridge girder geometries is employed to fit the resistance model using SR. Finally, the performance of the SR prediction model is evaluated by comparison of the resistances predicted using available formulae from the literature.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.509-525
• /
• 2020

Steel-concrete composite slabs with profiled steel sheeting are widely used in the execution of floors in steel and composite buildings. The rapid construction process, the elimination of conventional replaceable shuttering and the reduction of temporary support are, in general, considered the main advantages of this structural system. In slabs with the spans currently used, the longitudinal shear resistance commonly provided by the embossments along the steel sheet tends to be the governing design mode. This paper presents an innovative reinforcing system that increases the longitudinal shear capacity of composite slabs. The system is constituted by a set of transversal reinforcing bars crossing longitudinal stiffeners executed along the upper flanges of the steel sheet profiles. This type of reinforcement takes advantage of the high bending resistance of the composite slabs and increases the slab's ductility. Two experimental programmes were carried out: a small-scale test programme - to study the resistance provided by the reinforcing system in detail - and a full-scale test programme to test simply supported and continuous composite slabs - to assess the efficacy of the proposed reinforcing system on the global behaviour of the slabs. Based on the results of the small-scale tests, an equation to predict the resistance provided by the proposed reinforcing system was established. The present study concludes that the resistance and the ductility of composite slabs using the reinforcing system proposed here are significantly increased.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.73 no.6
• /
• pp.641-649
• /
• 2020

The determination of midtower longitudinal stiffness has become an essential component in the preliminary design of multi-tower suspension bridges. For a specific multi-tower suspension bridge, the midtower longitudinal stiffness must be controlled within a certain range to meet the requirements of sliding resistance coefficient and deflection-to-span ratio. This study presents a numerical method to divide different types of midtower and determine rational range of longitudinal stiffness for rigid midtower. In this method, influence curves of midtower longitudinal stiffness on sliding resistance coefficient and maximum vertical deflection-to-span ratio are first obtained from the finite element analysis. Then, different types of midtower are divided based on the regression analysis of influence curves. Finally, rational range for longitudinal stiffness of rigid midtower is derived. The Oujiang River North Estuary Bridge which is a three-tower four-span suspension bridge with two main spans of 800m under construction in China is selected as the subject of this study. This will be the first three-tower four-span suspension bridge with steel truss girders and concrete midtower in the world. The proposed method provides an effective and feasible tool for engineers to design midtower of multi-tower suspension bridges.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.247-263
• /
• 2013

It is evident that torsional resistance of a reinforced concrete (RC) member is attributed to both concrete and steel reinforcement. However, recent structural design codes neglect the contribution of concrete because of cracking. This paper reports on the results of an experimental and numerical investigation into the torsional capacity of concrete beams reinforced only by longitudinal rebars without transverse reinforcement. The experimental investigation involves six specimens tested under pure torsion. Each specimen was made using a cast-in-place concrete with different amounts of longitudinal reinforcements. To create the torsional moment, an eccentric load was applied at the end of the beam whereas the other end was fixed against twist, vertical, and transverse displacement. The experimental results were also compared with the results obtained from the nonlinear finite element analysis performed in ANSYS. The outcomes showed a good agreement between experimental and numerical investigation, indicating the capability of numerical analysis in predicting the torsional capacity of RC beams. Both experimental and numerical results showed a considerable torsional post-cracking resistance in high twist angle in test specimen. This post-cracking resistance is neglected in torsional design of RC members. This strength could be considered in the design of RC members subjected to torsion forces, leading to a more economical and precise design.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.173-178
• /
• 2016

When a ballast track of a high-speed train is constructed on a bridge, the displacement of the bridge decks can occur because they are not fixed to the rails. Moreover, relative displacements occur between the bridge and rails caused by temperature changes and external loads. The current longitudinal resistance criteria (UIC Code 774-3, KR C-08080) on ballast tracks with continuous welded rails (CWRs) do not take into account the longitudinal movement of the bridge and the frictional force between the ballast and slabs. In addition, the magnitude of the longitudinal resistance, k, is calculated somewhat conservatively and, (therefore?) it acts as an unfavorable element in the design of long span and continuous railway bridges. Thus, in order to replicate the actual behavior more effectively, the longitudinal resistance of CWRs should take into account the additional rigidity between the slab and track. In this study, the longitudinal resistances of the ballasted track on the bridge were analyzed by carrying out an experimental study with a test setup designed to simulate the deck and bed track. In the test results, the maximum longitudinal resistances of the tests were similar to the resistances of the current codes, however, the measured longitudinal stiffness designed to limit the displacement of the tests were much smaller in comparison with the longitudinal stiffness on the codes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.69 no.2
• /
• pp.193-204
• /
• 2019

This paper presents results from experimental and numerical studies on the response of steel-concrete composite box bridge girders under certain localized fire exposure conditions. Two composite box bridge girders, a simply supported girder and a continuous girder respectively, were tested under simultaneous loading and fire exposure. The simply supported girder was exposed to fire over 40% of its span length in the middle zone, and the two-span continuous girder was exposed to fire over 38% of its length of the first span and full length of the second span. A measurement method based on comparative rate of deflection was provided to predict the failure time in the hogging moment zone of continuous composite box bridge girders under certain localized fire exposure condition. Parameters including transverse and longitudinal stiffeners and fire scenarios were introduced to investigate fire resistance of the composite box bridge girders. Test results show that failure of the simply supported girder is governed by the deflection limit state, whereas failure of the continuous girder occurs through bending buckling of the web and bottom slab in the hogging moment zone. Deflection based criterion may not be reliable in evaluating failure of continuous composite box bridge girder under certain fire exposure condition. The fire resistance (failure time) of the continuous girder is higher than that of the simply supported girder. Data from fire tests is successfully utilized to validate a finite element based numerical model for further investigating the response of composite box bridge girders exposed to localized fire. Results from numerical analysis show that fire resistance of composite box bridge girders can be highly influenced by the spacing of longitudinal stiffeners and fire severity. The continuous composite box bridge girder with closer longitudinal stiffeners has better fire resistance than the simply composite box bridge girder. It is concluded that the fire resistance of continuous composite box bridge girders can be significantly enhanced by preventing the hogging moment zone from exposure to fire. Longitudinal stiffeners with closer spacing can enhance fire resistance of composite box bridge girders. The increase of transverse stiffeners has no significant effect on fire resistance of composite box bridge girders.

• Journal of The Korean Society For Urban Railway
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.327-337
• /
• 2018

Since the track of the ballastless steel plate girder bridge is connected to a main girder without a deck and a ballast, the impact generated by train passage is transferred directly to bridge main members, and it can cause frequent damage of the bridge as well as higher noise and vibration level. Applying the CWR (Continuously Welded Rail) technology can reduce this structural problems, and, to this end, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of factors influencing vehicle-track or track-bridge interaction. In this paper, experimental study results are presented for examining the longitudinal resistance characteristics of the track, including a rail fastener, a sleeper fastener, and a track skeleton, installed on a ballastless steel plate girder bridge. The experiment is conducted using a disposed bridge from service, which is transported to a laboratory. The experimental results show that the rail fastener satisfies the performance criteria of the longitudinal resistance presented in KRS TR 0014-15, and the longitudinal resistance of old and new type sleeper fasteners is higher than the values provided in the existing research. Also, the unloaded longitudinal resistance of the ballastless track is between the ballast and the concrete tracks.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2002

Where the track is continuously welded over the bridge, the longitudinal forces will be distributed interactively between the track and the sub-structure by the rail-bridge interaction mechanism. The ratio between the longitudinal forces transmitted in each elements depends on the magnitude of the ballast resistance and the stiffness of the sub-structures. In this paper, the main factors affect on the longitudinal rail force are discussed and the parametric study for the behavior of CWR(Continuous Welded Rail) track was executed. It is concluded that the horizontal ballast resistance and the stiffness of the bridge sub-structure are the significant parameters affecting the stability of the continuous welded rail track.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.744-754
• /
• 2016

Asphalt concrete track (ACT) is a track system connecting wide sleepers and concrete panels on top of an asphalt concrete layer; such a system requires adequate resistance force against various longitudinal and lateral external loads. In this study, a series of experiments were carried out to assess the longitudinal and lateral resistance force of a wide sleeper and concrete panel type ACT. The required shear resistance force of the horizontal displacement restraint device (HDRD) was evaluated. Furthermore, a concrete block type anchor and a steel pipe type anchor were developed as HDRDs. The shear resistance force was decided based on the experimental results of horizontal shear tests for each anchor system. In addition, proper numbers and arrangement design guidelines for the HDRDs were suggested considering the shear resisting capacity and economics for HDRDs applied to ACT.