• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제5권5호
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• pp.469-479
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• 2017

Balanced cantilever construction is extensively used in the construction of prestressed concrete (PSC) box-girder bridges. Shear-lag effect is usually considered in finished bridges, while the cumulative shear-lag effect in bridges during balanced cantilever construction is considered only rarely. In this paper, based on the balanced cantilever construction sequences of large-span PSC box-girder bridges, the difference method is employed to analyze the cumulative shear-lag effect of box girders with varying depth under the concrete segments' own weight. During cantilever construction, no negative shear-lag effect is generated, and the cumulative shear-lag effect under the balanced construction procedure is greater than the instantaneous shear-lag effect in which the full dead weight is applied to the entire cantilever. Three cross-sections of Jianjiang Bridge were chosen for the experimental observation of shear-lag effect, and the experimental results are in keeping with the theoretical results of cumulative shear-lag effect. The research indicates that only calculating the instantaneous shear-lag effect is not sufficiently safe for practical engineering purposes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.673-693
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• 2005

A general step-by-step simulation for the time-dependent analysis of segmentally-erected prestressed concrete box-girder bridges is presented. A three dimensional finite-element model for the balanced-cantilever construction of segmental bridges, including effects of the load history, material nonlinearity, creep, shrinkage, and aging of concrete and the relaxation of prestressing steel was developed using ABAQUS software. The models included three-dimensional shell elements to model the box-girder walls and Rebar elements representing the prestressing tendons. The step-by-step procedure allows simulating the construction stages, effects of time-dependent deformations of materials and changes in the structural system of the bridges. The structural responses during construction and throughout the service life were traced. A comparison of the developed computer simulation with available experimental results was conducted and good agreement was found. Deflection of the bridge deck, changes in stresses and strains and the redistribution of internal forces were calculated for different examples of bridges, built by the balanced-cantilever method, over thirty-year duration. Significant time-dependent effects on the bridge deflections and redistribution of internal forces and stresses were observed. The ultimate load carrying capacities of the bridges and the behavior before collapse were also determined. It was observed that the ultimate load carrying capacity of such bridges decreases with time as a result of time-dependent effects.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제85권2호
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• pp.163-177
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• 2023

The design of segmental bridges, a structure that typically employs precast prestressed concrete elements and the balanced cantilever construction method for the deck, may demand a highly complex structural analysis for increased precision of the results. This work presents a comprehensive numerical analysis of a 3D finite element model using the software ANSYS, version 21.2, to simulate the constructive deck stages of the New Guaiba Bridge, a structure located in Porto Alegre city, southern Brazil. The materials concrete and steel were considered viscoelastic. The concrete used a Generalized Kelvin model, with subroutines written in FORTRAN and added to the main model through the customization tool UPF (User Programmable Features). The steel prestressing tendons used a Generalized Maxwell model available in ANSYS. The balanced cantilever constructive steps of a span of the New Guaiba Bridge were then numerically simulated to follow the actual constructive sequence of the bridge. A comparison between the results obtained with the numerical model and the actual vertical displacement data monitored during the bridge's construction was carried out, showing a good correlation.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.21-44
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to determine the dynamic characteristics of long reinforced concrete highway bridges with post-tension tendons using analytical and experimental methods. It is known that the deck length and height of bridges are affected the dynamic characteristics considerably. For this purpose, Berta Bridge constructed in deep valley, in Artvin, Turkey, is selected as an application. The Bridge has two piers with height of 109.245 m and 85.193 m, and the total length of deck is 340.0 m. Analytical and experimental studies are carried out on Berta Bridge which was built in accordance with the balanced cantilever method. Finite Element Method (FEM) and Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) which considers ambient vibration data were used in analytical and experimental studies, respectively. Finite element model of the bridge is created by using SAP2000 program to obtain analytical dynamic characteristics such as the natural frequencies and mode shapes. The ambient vibration tests are performed using Operational Modal Analysis under wind and human loads. Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD) and Stochastic Subspace Identification (SSI) methods are used to obtain experimental dynamic characteristics like natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. At the end of the study, analytical and experimental dynamic characteristic are compared with each other and the finite element model of the bridge was updated considering the material properties and boundary conditions. It is emphasized that Operational Modal Analysis method based on the ambient vibrations can be used safely to determine the dynamic characteristics, to update the finite element models, and to monitor the structural health of long reinforced concrete highway bridges constructed with the balanced cantilever method.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.487-495
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• 2021

The use of prestressed concrete box girder bridges built by segmentally balanced cantilevers has bloomed in the last decades due to its significant structural and construction advantages in complex topographies. In Colombia, this typology is the most common solution for structures with spans ranging of 80-200 m. Despite its popularity, excessive deflections in bridges worldwide evidenced that time-dependent effects were underestimated. This problem has led to the constant updating of the creep and shrinkage models in international code standards. Differences observed between design processes of box girder bridges of the Colombian code and Eurocode, led to the need for a validation of in-service status of these structures. This study analyzes the long-term behavior of the Tablazo bridge with data scarcity. The measured leveling of this structure is compared with a finite-element model that consider the most widely used creep and shrinkage models in the literature. Finally, an adjusted model evidence excessive deflection on the bridge after six years. Monitoring of this bridge typology in Colombia and updating of the current design code is recommended.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.413-426
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• 2012

In this paper, nonlinear static analysis of three-dimensional cable stayed bridges is performed for the time dependent materials properties such as creep, shrinkage and aging of concrete and relaxation of cable. Manavgat Cable-Stayed Bridge is selected as an application. The bridge located in Antalya, Turkey, was constructed with balanced cantilever construction method. Total length of the bridge is 202 m. The bridge consists of one $\ddot{e}$ shape steel tower. The tower is at the middle of the bridge span. The construction stages and 3D finite element model of bridge are modeled with SAP2000. Large displacement occurs in these types of bridges so geometric nonlinearity is taken into consideration in the analysis by using P-Delta plus large displacement criterion. The time dependent material strength and geometric variations are included in the analysis. Two different finite element analyses carried out which are evaluated with and without construction stages and results are compared with each other. As a result of these analyses, variation of internal forces such as bending moment, axial forces and shear forces for bridge tower and displacement and bending moment for bridge deck are given with detailed. It is seen that construction stage analysis has a remarkable effect on the structural behavior of the bridge.

• 한국콘크리트학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국콘크리트학회 2002년도 봄 학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.279-284
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• 2002

Prestressed concrete(PSC) bridge structures with a number of continuous spans has been segmentally built in many countries. These methods include incremental launching method, movable scaffolding method, full staging method and balanced cantilever method. In these segmentally constructed prestressed concrete bridges, many construction joints exist and these construction joints are weak points in PSC bridges. The prestress force can be introduced prestress force continuously through the construction joints of PSC bridge superstructure using tendon couplers. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the structural behavior and ultimate flexural strength of construction joints in PSC girder bridge members. To this end, a comprehensive experimental program has been set up and a series of full-scale tests have been performed. Ultimate flexural strength of construction joint in PSC members with tendon couplers is decreased by approximately 10% for non-coupled members.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.169-186
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• 2013

The aim of this paper is to determine the effect of soil-structure interaction and time dependent material properties on behavior of concrete box-girder highway bridges. Two different finite element analyses, one stage and construction stage, have been carried out on Komurhan Bridge between Elazi$\breve{g}$ and Malatya province of Turkey, over Fırat River. The one stage analysis assume that structure was built in a second and material properties of structure not change under different loads and site conditions during time. However, construction stage analysis considers that construction time and time dependent material properties. The main and side spans of bridge are 135 m and 76 m, respectively. The bridge had been constructed in 3 years between 1983 and 1986 by balanced cantilever construction method. The parameters of soil-structure interaction (SSI), time dependent material properties and construction method are taken into consideration in the construction stage analysis while SSI is single parameter taking into consideration in the one stage analysis. The 3D finite element model of bridge is created the commercial program of SAP2000. Time dependent material properties are elasticity modulus, creep and shrinkage for concrete and relaxation for steel. Soft, medium, and firm soils are selected for evaluating SSI in both analyses. The results of two different finite element analyses are compared with each other. It is seen that both construction stage and SSI have a remarkable effect on the structural behavior of the bridge.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제72권4호
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• pp.503-512
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• 2019

The construction of segmental precast concrete bridge is an increase due to its superior performance and economic advantages. This type of bridge is appropriate for spans within 30 to 150 m (100 to 500 ft), known as mega-projects and the design optimization would lead to considerable economic benefits. A box-girder cross section superstructure of balanced cantilever construction method is assessed here. The depth of cross section, (variable along the span linearly), bottom flange thickness, and the count of strands are considered as design variables. The optimum design is characterized by geometry, serviceability, ductility, and ultimate limit states specified by AASHTO. Genetic algorithm (GA) is applied in two fronts: as to the saving in construction cost 8% and as to concrete volume 6%. The sensitivity analysis is run by considering different parameters like span/depth ratio, relation between superstructure cost, span length and concrete compressive strength.