• Wind and Structures
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.399-416
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• 2018

In order to reveal the independent relationship between track irregularity and wind loads, the stochastic characteristics of train-bridge coupling systems subjected to wind loads were investigated by the multi-sample calculation. The vehicle was selected as 23 degrees of freedom dynamical model, and the bridge was described by three-dimensional finite element model. It was assumed that the wind loads were random processes with strong spatial correlation, while the track irregularities were stationary random ones. As a case study, a high-speed train running on a cable-stayed bridge subjected to wind loads was studied. The effect of rail irregularities was deemed to be independent of the effect of wind excitations on the coupling system in the same wind circumstance for the same project, leading to the conclusion that the effect of wind loads and moving vehicle could be calculated separately. The variance results of the stochastic responses of vehicle-bridge coupling system under the action of wind loads and rail irregularities together were equivalent to the sum of the variance of the responses induced by each excitation. Therefore, when one of the input excitations is different, only the effect of changed loads needs to be assessed. Moreover, the new calculated results were combined with the effect of unchanged loads to present the stochastic response of coupling system subjected to the different excitations, reducing the cost of computations. The stochastic characteristics, the CFD (cumulative distribution function) of the coupling system with different wind velocities, vehicle speed, and vehicle marshalling were studied likewise.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.505-515
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• 2009

In railway bridges, various loads including train load, transverse load and braking force are applied to continuous CWR or semi-continuous longer rail located on non-continuous bridge superstructures. The rail-girder interaction due to thermal expansion is also very complex in railway bridges because the thermal characteristics for each of the rails and girder are quite different. Recently, the bridge retrofits for seismic loads were performed on bridges not designed for these loads. These retrofits may however have limitations with respect to rail-girder interactions because, in general these retrofits address issues related only to seismic loads. In this study of seismic evaluations for railway bridges, the load effects on the bridge rails from the road beds through the continuous rails shall be considered. Practical methods will be proposed which will increase the railway stability. For this, rail-girder interaction analyses due to train loads, temperature changes and seismic loads were performed and the results reviewed from a practical point of view.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.393-409
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• 2013

This paper uses ten years of on-site monitoring data for the Confederation Bridge to derive wind loads and investigate whether the bridge has experienced its design wind force effects since its completion in 1997. The load effects derived using loads from the on-site monitoring data are compared to the load effects derived using loads from the 1994 and 2009 wind tunnel aerodynamic model tests. The research shows, for the first time, that the aerodynamic model-based methodology originally developed in 1994 is a very accurate method for deriving wind loads for structural design. The research also confirms that the bridge has not experienced its specified (i.e., unfactored) wind force effects since it was opened to traffic in 1997, even during the most severe event that has occurred during this period.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.5
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• pp.645-654
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• 2022

Environmental thermal loads such as vertical and lateral temperature gradients are significant factors that must be taken into account when designing the bridge. Different models have been developed and used by countries for simulating thermal gradients in bridge codes. In most of the codes only vertical temperature gradients are considered, such as Iranian Standard Loads for Bridge code (ISLB), which only considers the vertical gradient for bridge design proposes. On the other hand, the vertical gradient profile specified in ISLB, has many lacks due to the diversity of climate in Iran, and only one vertical gradient profile is defined for whole Iran. This paper aims to get the both vertical and lateral gradient loads for the concrete box girder using experimental analysis in the capital of Iran, Tehran. To fulfill this aim, thermocouples are installed in experimental concrete segment and temperatures in different location of the segment are recorded. A three dimensional finite element model of concrete box-girder bridge is constructed to study the effects of thermal loads. Results of investigation proved that the effects of thermal loads are not negligible, and must be considered in design processes. Moreover, a solution for reducing the negative effects of thermal gradients in bridges is proposed. Results of the simulation show that using one layer polyurethane insulation can significantly reduce the thermal gradients and thermal stresses.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.505-532
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• 2002

In this study, the analysis of high-speed vehicle-bridge interactions by a simplified 3-dimensional finite element model is performed. Since railroads are constructed mostly as double tracks, there exists eccentricity between the vehicle axle and the neutral axis of cross section of a railway bridge. Therefore, for the more efficient and accurate vehicle-bridge interaction analysis, the analysis model should include the eccentricity of axle loads and the effect of torsional forces acting on the bridge. The investigation into the influences of eccentricity of the vehicle axle loads and vehicle speed on vehicle-bridge interactions are carried out for two cases. In the first case, only one train moves on its track and in the other case, two trains move respectively on their tracks in the opposite direction. From the analysis results of an existing bridge, the efficiency and capability of the simplified 3-dimensional model for practical application can be also verified.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.191-211
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• 2015

Several frameworks for the dynamic analysis of wind-vehicle-bridge systems were presented in the past decade to study the safety or ride comfort of road vehicles as they pass through bridges under crosswinds. The wind loads on the vehicles were generally formed based on the aerodynamic parameters of the stationary vehicles on the ground, and the wind loads for the pure bridge decks without the effects of road vehicles. And very few studies were carried out to explore the dynamic effects of the aerodynamic interference between road vehicles and bridge decks, particularly for the moving road vehicles. In this study, the aerodynamic parameters for both the moving road vehicle and the deck considering the mutually-affected aerodynamic effects are formulized firstly. And the corresponding wind loads on the road vehicle-bridge system are obtained. Then a refined analytical framework of the WVB system incorporating the resultant wind loads, a driver model, and the road roughness in plane to fully consider the lateral motion of the road vehicle under crosswinds is proposed. It is shown that obvious lateral and yaw motions of the road vehicle occur. For the selected single road vehicle passing a long span bridge, slight effects are caused by the aerodynamic interference between the moving vehicle and deck on the dynamic responses of the system.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.373-391
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• 2013

This is the first of two companion papers that analyse ten years of on-site monitoring data for the Confederation Bridge to determine the validity of the original wind speeds and wind loads predicted in 1994 when the bridge was being designed. The check of the original design values is warranted because the design wind speed at the middle of Northumberland Strait was derived from data collected at shore-based weather stations, and the design wind loads were based on tests of section and full-aeroelastic models in the wind tunnel. This first paper uses wind, tilt, and acceleration monitoring data to determine the static and dynamic responses of the bridge, which are then used in the second paper to derive the static and dynamic wind loads. It is shown that the design ten-minute mean wind speed with a 100-year return period is 1.5% less than the 1994 design value, and that the bridge has been subjected to this design event once on November 7, 2001. The dynamic characteristics of the instrumented spans of the bridge including frequencies, mode shapes and damping are in good agreement with published values reported by others. The on-site monitoring data show bridge response to be that of turbulent buffeting which is consistent with the response predicted at the design stage.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.5 no.1 s.15
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• pp.65-71
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• 2005

This research analyzed dynamic responses of the preflex railroad bridge. Vertical deflection and acceleration induced by operating train loads and test train loads were measured. Deflection of bridge by train traveling satisfies deflection limitation regulation (L/800) about the concrete bridge, but compare with UIC standard, vibration acceleration happened fairly greatly. Also test result show that acceleration receives greatly effect about the speed than deflection. It must discuss about vibration acceleration problems for speed elevation hereafter.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1021-1027
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• 2004

This research analyzed dynamic responses of the preflex railroad bridge. Vertical deflection and acceleration induced by operating train loads and test train loads were measured. Deflection of bridge by train traveling satisfies deflection limitation regulation (L/800) about the concrete bridge, but compare with UIC standard, vibration acceleration happened fairly greatly. Also test result show that acceleration receives greatly effect about the speed than deflection. It must discuss about vibration acceleration problems for speed elevation hereafter.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.409-428
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• 2001

The characteristics of dynamic wheel loads of heavy vehicles running on bridge and rigid surface are investigated by using three-dimensional analytical model. The simulated dynamic wheel loads of vehicles are compared with the experimental results carried out by Road-Vehicles Research Institute of Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) to verify the validity of the analytical model. Also another comparison of the analytical result with the experimental one for Umeda Entrance Bridge of Hanshin Expressway in Osaka, Japan, is presented in this study. The agreement between the analytical and experimental results is satisfactory and encouraging the use of the analytical model in practice. Parametric study shows that the dynamic increment factor (DIF) of the bridge and RMS values of dynamic wheel loads are fluctuated according to vehicle speeds and vehicle types as well as roadway roughness conditions. Moreover, there exist strong dominant frequency resemblance between bounce motion of vehicle and bridge response as well as those relations between RMS values of dynamic wheel loads and dynamic increment factor (DIF) of bridges.