• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2000.04b
• /
• pp.246-252
• /
• 2000

The nonlinearity of a cable-stayed bridge results in the large displacement of main girder due to a long span, the large axial forces reduce the catenary action of cables and the flexural stiffness. Therefore, the static and dynamic behavior of pylon for a cable-stayed bridge plays an important role in determining its safety. This study was performed to find the behavior of pylon of cable-stayed bridge for the first-order analysis considering of axial load only and for the second-order analysis considering of lateral deflection due to axial load. The axial force and moment values of pylon were different from the results of the first-order analysis and second-order analysis according to pylon shape and cross beam stiffness when the pylon was subjected to earthquake and wind loads. In the second-order analysis, comparing the numerical values of the member forces for the dynamic analysis, types 3 and 4 (A type) were relatively more advantageons types than types 1 and 2 (H type). Considering the stability for pylon of cable-stayed bridge (whole structural system), types 3 and 4 (A type) with pre-buckling of girder were proper types than types 1 and 2 (H type) with buckling of pylon.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2008.04a
• /
• pp.495-498
• /
• 2008

In this paper applicable range of U-Channel Bridge (UCB) that has recently been introduced as a new bridge type was studied. For structural analysis models used with the frame and plate elements was proposed, and verification of the models were performed. Using these structural models structural analysis of models with span length of 20m-45m and inner width of 5m-13m were performed. As a result for U-shape sections were applicable in the range of 20m span and 35m span, slab was applicable in the range of 5m inner width and 12m inner width. To increase applicable range of UCB H-shape sections and slab with rib were proposed. As a result UCB were applicable in the range of 20m span and 45m span, in the range of 5m inner width and 13m inner width.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.405-420
• /
• 2016

Section model wind tunnel test is currently the main technique to investigate the flutter performance of long-span bridges. Further study about applying the wind tunnel test results to the aerodynamic optimization is still needed. Systematical parameters and test principle of the bridge section model are determined by using three long-span steel truss suspension bridges. The flutter critical wind at different attack angles is obtained through section model flutter test. Under the most unfavorable working condition, tests to investigate the effects that upper central stabilized plate, lower central stabilized plate and horizontal stabilized plate have on the flutter performance of the main beam were conducted. According to the test results, the optimal aerodynamic measure was chosen to meet the requirements of the bridge wind resistance in consideration of safety, economy and aesthetics. At last the credibility of the results is confirmed by full bridge aerodynamic elastic model test. That the flutter reduced wind speed of long-span steel truss suspension bridges stays approximately between 4 to 5 is concluded as a reference for the investigation of the flutter performance of future similar steel truss girder suspension bridges.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.199-219
• /
• 2015

This paper presents the non-destructive evaluation of a high-speed railway bridge using train-induced strain responses. Based on the train-track-bridge interaction analysis, the strain responses of a high-speed railway bridge under moving trains with different operation status could be calculated. The train induced strain responses could be divided into two parts: the force vibration stage and the free vibration stage. The strain-displacement relationship is analysed and used for deriving critical displacements from theoretical stain measurements at a forced vibration stage. The derived displacements would be suitable for the condition assessment of the bridge through design specifications defined indexes and would show certain limits to the practical application. Thus, the damage identification of high-speed railways, such as the stiffness degradation location, needs to be done by comparing the measured strain response under moving trains in different states because the vehicle types of high-speed railway are relatively clear and definite. The monitored strain responses at the free vibration stage, after trains pass through the bridge, would be used for identifying the strain modes. The relationship between and the degradation degree and the strain mode shapes shows certain rules for the widely used simply supported beam bridges. The numerical simulation proves simple and effective for the proposed method to locate and quantify the stiffness degradation.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.645-663
• /
• 2015

Recently, an indirect displacement estimation method using data fusion of acceleration and strain (i.e., acceleration-strain-based method) has been developed. Though the method showed good performance on beam-like structures, it has inherent limitation in applying to more general types of bridges that may have complex shapes, because it uses assumed analytical (sinusoidal) mode shapes to map the measured strain into displacement. This paper proposes an improved displacement estimation method that can be applied to more general types of bridges by building the mapping using the finite element model of the structure rather than using the assumed sinusoidal mode shapes. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated by numerical simulations on a deck arch bridge model and a three-span truss bridge model whose mode shapes are difficult to express as analytical functions. The displacements are estimated by acceleration-based method, strain-based method, acceleration-strain-based method, and the improved method. Then the results are compared with the exact displacement. An experimental validation is also carried out on a prestressed concrete girder bridge. The proposed method is found to provide the best estimate for dynamic displacements in the comparison, showing good agreement with the measurements as well.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.127-145
• /
• 2012

One of the most important and challenging steps in seismic vulnerability and performance assessment of highway bridges is the determination of the bridge component damage parameters and their corresponding limit states. These parameters are very essential for defining bridge damage state as well as determining the performance of highway bridges under a seismic event. Therefore, realistic damage limit states are required in the development of reliable fragility curves, which are employed in the seismic risk assessment packages for mitigation purposes. In this article, qualitative damage assessment criteria for ordinary highway bridges are taken into account considering the critical bridge components in terms of proper engineering demand parameters (EDPs). Seismic damage of bridges is strongly related to the deformation of bridge components as well as member internal forces imposed due to seismic actions. A simple approach is proposed for determining the acceptance criteria and damage limit states for use in seismic performance and vulnerability assessment of ordinary highway bridges in Turkey constructed after the 1990s. Physical damage of bridge components is represented by three damage limit states: serviceability, damage control, and collapse prevention. Inelastic deformation and shear force demand of the bent components (column and cap beam), and superstructure displacement are the most common causes for the seismic damage of the highway bridges. Each damage limit state is quantified with respect to the EDPs: i.e. curvature and shear force demand of RC bent components and superstructure relative displacement.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.365-386
• /
• 2013

Monitoring systems currently applied to concrete bridges include strain gauges, inclinometers, accelerometers and displacement transducers. In general, vertical displacements are one of the parameters that more often need to be assessed because their information reflects the overall response of the bridge span. However, the implementation of systems to continuously and directly observe vertical displacements is known to be difficult. On the other hand, strain gauges and inclinometers are easier to install, but their measurements provide no more than indirect information regarding the bridge deflection. In this context, taking advantage of the information collected through strain gauges and inclinometers, and the processing capabilities of current computers, a procedure to evaluate bridge girder deflections based on polynomial functions is presented. The procedure has been implemented in an existing software system - MENSUSMONITOR -, improving the flexibility in the data handling and enabling faster data processing by means of real time visualization capabilities. Benefiting from these features, a comprehensive analysis aiming at assessing the suitability of polynomial functions as an approximate solution for deflection curves, is presented. The effect of boundary conditions and the influence of the order of the polynomial functions on the accuracy of results are discussed. Some recommendations for further instrumentation plans are provided based on the results of the present analysis. This work is supported throughout by monitoring data collected from a laboratory beam model and two full-scale bridges.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.9 no.3 s.32
• /
• pp.309-321
• /
• 1997

The prediction of the dynamic response of a bridge resulting from passing vehicles across the span is a significant problem in bridge design. In this paper. the static and dynamic experiments are performed to understand the dynamic behavior of an actual two-span steel plate girder bridge. The road surface roughness of the roadway and bridge deck is directly measured by Intelligent Total Station. Numerical scheme to obtain the dynamic responses of the bridges in consideration of measuring road surface roughness and 3-D vehicle model is also presented. The bridge and vehicle are modeled as 3-D bridge and vehicle model, respectively. The main girder and concrete deck are modeled as beam and shell elements, respectively and rigid link is used for the structure between main girder and concrete deck. Bridge-vehicle interaction equations are derived and the impact factors of the responses for different vehicle speeds are calculated and compared with those predicted by several foreign specifications.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.695-703
• /
• 2018

Based on monitoring data collected from the Nanjing Dashengguan Bridge over the last five years, this paper systematically investigates the effects of temperature field and train loadings on the structural responses of this long-span high-speed railway bridge, and establishes the early warning thresholds for various structural responses. Then, some lessons drawn from the structural health monitoring system of this bridge are summarized. The main context includes: (1) Polynomial regression models are established for monitoring temperature effects on modal frequencies of the main girder and hangers, longitudinal displacements of the bearings, and static strains of the truss members; (2) The correlation between structural vibration accelerations and train speeds is investigated, focusing on the resonance characteristics of the bridge at the specific train speeds; (3) With regard to various static and dynamic responses of the bridge, early warning thresholds are established by using mean control chart analysis and probabilistic analysis; (4) Two lessons are drawn from the experiences in the bridge operation, which involves the lacks of the health monitoring for telescopic devices on the beam-end and bolt fractures in key members of the main truss.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.93-103
• /
• 2009

Two-girder bridge is composed of primary members such as deck slab and main girder, and secondary member such as cross beam, vertical and horizontal stiffeners etc,. Two-girder bridge is prescribed as a non-redundant load path structure in the ASSHTO and the Korean Highway Bridge Design Code. Such structure is that if one girder is damaged, problems of function and safety of the bridge are caused. From the reasons, fatigue cracks in two-girder bridge can affect safety of the bridge seriously. Therefore, in this paper, fatigue evaluation was performed at connection parts of vertical stiffener and web with radius of curvature of scallop of vertical stiffener and thickness of web as variables. Such joint is known as a detail which has high possibility of fatigue crack in the bridge. Based upon the analytical results, preferable joint detail in terms of fatigue and simple empirical formula for fatigue evaluation of the detail were suggested.