• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.13-23
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• 2008

In this study, a finite element (FE) model updating method based on the hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) is proposed to improve the grillage FE model for plate girder bridges. HGA consists of a genetic algorithm (GA) and direct search method (DS) based on a modification of Nelder & Mead's simplex optimization method (NMS). Fitness functions based on natural frequencies, mode shapes, and static deflections making use of the measurements and analytical results are also presented to apply in the proposed method. In addition, a multi-objective function has been formulated as a linear combination of fitness functions in order to simultaneously improve both stiffness and mass. The applicability of the proposed method to girder bridge structures has been verified through a numerical example on a two-span continuous grillage FE model, as well as through an experimental test on a simply supported plate girder skew bridge. In addition, the effect of measuring error is considered as random noise, and its effect is investigated by numerical simulation. Through numerical and experimental verification, it has been proven that the proposed method is feasible and effective for FE model updating on plate girder bridges.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.281-298
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• 2007

The load carrying capacity of a bridge needs to be properly assessed to operate the bridge safely and maintain it efficiently. For the evaluation of load carrying capacity considering the current state of a bridge, static and quasi-static loading tests with weight-controlled heavy trucks have been conventionally utilized. In these tests, the deflection (or strain) of the structural members loaded by the controlled vehicles are measured and analyzed. Using the measured data, deflection (or strain) correction factor and impact correction factor are calculated. These correction factors are used in the enhancement of the load carrying capacity of a bridge, reflecting the real state of a bridge. However, full or partial control of the traffic during the tests and difficulties during the installment of displacement transducers or strain gauges may cause not only inconvenience to the traffic but also the increase of the logistics cost and time. To overcome these difficulties, an alternative method is proposed using an excited response part of full measured ambient acceleration data by ordinary traffic on a bridge without traffic control. Based on the modal properties extracted from the ambient vibration data, the initial finite element (FE) model of a bridge can be updated to represent the current real state of a bridge. Using the updated FE model, the deflection of a bridge akin to the real value can be easily obtained without measuring the real deflection. Impact factors are obtained from pseudo-deflection, which is obtained by double-integration of the acceleration data with removal of the linear components on the acceleration data. For validation, a series of tests were carried out on a steel plategirder bridge of an expressway in Korea in four different seasons, and the evaluated load carrying capacities of the bridge by the proposed method are compared with the result obtained by the conventional load test method.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.12 no.1 s.44
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• pp.17-28
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• 2000

The current specifications for bridge decks requires the same amount of upper and lower reinforcement mats. There have been many empirical activities that the partial elimination of upper reinforcing bars was not caused the structural integrity of a deck. A simplified method is derived based on thin plate theory for three and four-girder-span bridge decks. A simplified method for bridge deck considering the effect of girder deflection is proposed based on a closed-form solution that shows good agreement with the results of finite element models. In this research, a new design approach for deck slabs is proposed based on the simplified method. The negative bending moments in a deck can be evaluated with the simplified method based on the position of a wheel load, the aspect ratio and relative stiffness and the span length. This new approach can lead to a significant reduction of the quantity of the top reinforcing steel bars in a deck. Reducing the quantify of the top reinforcement not only reduces the construction costs for bridge decks, but also reduces the corrosion of reinforcement to a minimum.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.527-537
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• 2007

The main girders and cross-beams of an H-beam bridge consisted of factory-made H-beams, providing better conditions for quality control. Also, on-site fabrication works can be minimized and most of the stiffeners can be omitted, enabling simple and economic construction. In this study, the effect of the Multi-Stepwise TPSM (M-TPSM) on improving the maximum span length and section efficiency is analyzed. Compared to a 30-m-long, five-girder conventional plate girder bridge, structural analysis results showed that 50.7~55.1% of the girder height and 24.1~26.2% of the self-weight may be reduced by the application of M-TPSM to a five-girder H-beam bridge constructed with H-$900{\times}300$beams. In case of conventional H-beam bridges without M-TPSM, it was found that seven girders are required for a similar level of load-carrying capacity. Therefore, it is concluded that by the application of the M-TPSM, the H-beam bridge would become one of most cost-competitive options for short- and medium-span bridges.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.115-128
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• 1992

The main purpose of this study was to determine whether the inelastic moment-rotation character-istics defined by the lower-bound curve permit economical ALFD for noncompact plate gilders. The study was also intended to determine the benefits of improving the moment-rotation to illustrate the ar plication of the ALFD to noncompact plate girders and to show the Influence of various parameters on the design process. To accomplish these objectives, 34 preliminary designs were made by ALFD or LFD or WSD. In the study, this method of analysis is described first. Next, the design procedures are described. Finally, the resulting designs are presented and discussed.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.404-411
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• 2002

The PSC 2-span-continuous-bridge by Up-Down Method on construction process is used for this research. It is measured the strain of lower-steel-plate at continuous section on the active range of negative moment at the stage of introducing compressive stress to bottom-plate and compared with results of structural analysis. On the basis of these results, it is confirmed the introduced compressive stress tか bottom-plate. The object of this research is presenting the degree of continuity at the stage of lifting up process.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1991.10a
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• pp.74-79
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• 1991

In order to investigate the behavior of newly developed PC deck plate bridges, 1/2 scale model specimen was tested under the 2 million cycles of fatigue loading. Forces between PC members were transfered by shear keys located at the faces of deck plate and girders. The test results showed that the test specimen maintained its original strength after 2 million cycles of fatigue loading.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.1697-1702
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• 2010

It has been recognized for decades that the spherical bearing which is sliding on curved surface in the intrinsic behavior is optimized for the railway bridge requiring a large slope deflection. However, the spherical bearing is easily corrosived at the PSC girder bridge which is exposed to the outside so the normal function of bridge bearing is not fulfilled fully. It is common that the corrosion is happened at the operating plate of steel bridge bearing and generally it is necessary to replace the bridge bearing after 20~25 years. Accordingly, It costs multi billion dollars for maintenance each year and the necessity of improvement become a issue. Korea Rail Network Authority(KR) suggested to apply the Elastomeric bearing instead of Spherical bearing through the task of construction site of 2006. But the normal Elastomeric bearing is optimized for the Highway bridge so it needs the special consideration to satisfy each design condition required by railway bridge. As the result of examination of Elastomeric bearing at the railway bridge construction site, the stress is decreased by effective dispersion of earthquakes and the maintenance fee is also decreased.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.283-289
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• 2004

According to continuos welded rails on a bridge, temperature changes bring about the expansion of the bridge deck adding axil forces on the track. Moreover, the ballast on the bridge deck expansion joint is moved due to the bridge deck. If bridge decks are longer, the influence is greater, loosening ballast, causing track irregularities, and deteriorating passengers' comfort. Considering structure of bridge itself and tolerance of track irregularities caused by the loosened ballast on bridges, the maximum length of a deck should be less than 80m, which is the same as the standard of the French railway. In this study, an interaction between the expansion related to the bridge length and irregularity in longitudinal level referring to measurements and maintenance works performed in the high-speed railways was analyzed. This research shows that installation of sliding plate or vertical ballast stopper is not a good option since it is difficult to install. On the other hand, installation of movable fastener or gluing is easy but its influence is insignificant. To conclude, switch tie tamping or manual tamping is more effective than others.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.115-122
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• 2005

This study analyzed the characteristics of four kinds of bridge rubber pads and suggested how to determine the stiffness the pads. The stiffness of rubber pads can be estimated by a direct static test. In the procedure to estimate the stiffness of a pad, the dead load(preload) of a bridge and live load of a vehicle are considered. The polyurethane rubber pads have larger hardness than natural and chloroprene rubber pads and thus carry larger load bearing capacity. In addition, they showed higher stiffness with the same shape factor than the others and thus are more avaliable as for bridge bearings. Although natural and chloroprene rubber pads are elongated to large deformation in horizontal direction due to vertical loads, polyurethane rubber pads almost do not generate horizontal deformation due to vertical loads regardless to the thickness and hardness of the pads. Therefore, they do not need reinforced plate to restrict horizontal deformation.