• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.321-330
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• 2011

Long-term properties of concrete affect structures in many respects, not excepting dynamic behaviors. This paper investigates the influence of concrete creep on the dynamic behaviors of concrete filled steel tube (CFT) arch bridges, by means of combining the analytical method for the creep of axially compressed CFT members, which is based on Model B3 for concrete creep, with the finite element model of CFT arch bridges. By this approach, the changes of the stress and strain of each element in the bridge with time can be obtained and then transformed into damping and stiffness matrices in the dynamic equation involved in the finite element model at different times. A numerical example of a long-span half-through CFT arch bridge shows that creep influences the natural vibration characteristics and seismic responses of the bridge considerably, especially in the early age. In addition, parameter analysis demonstrates that concrete composition, compressive strength and steel ratio have an obvious effect on the seismic response of the CFT arch bridge.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.109-122
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• 2016

Concrete creep, while significantly changing the static behaviors of concrete filled steel tube (CFST) structures, do alter the structures' dynamic behaviors as well, which is studied quite limitedly. The attempt to investigate the influence of concrete creep on the dynamic property and response of CFST arch bridges was made in this paper. The mechanism through which creep exerts its influence was analyzed first; then a predicative formula was proposed for the concrete elastic modulus after creep based on available test data; finally a numerical analysis for the effect of creep on the dynamic behaviors of a long-span half-through CFST arch bridge was conducted. It is demonstrated that the presence of concrete creep increases the elastic modulus of concrete, and further magnifies the seismic responses of the displacement and internal force in some sections of the bridge. This influence is related closely to the excitation and the structure, and should be analyzed case-by-case.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.639-650
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• 2007

Applying the method calculating creep of Concrete Filled steel Tube (CFT) members based on the Elastic Continuation and Plastic Flow theory for concrete creep with the finite element method, the paper develops a new numerical method for the creep of CFT arch bridges considering effects of bending moment. It is shown that the method is feasible and reasonable through comparing the predicted stresses and deflection caused by the creep with the results obtained by the method of Gu et al. (2001) based on ACI209R model and experimental data of an actual CFT arch bridge. Furthermore, nine CFT arch bridges with different types are calculated and analyzed with and without the effects of bending moment. As a result, the bending moment has considerable influences on long-term deformations and internal forces of CFT arch bridges, especially when the section of arch rib is subjected to a large bending moment.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1141-1162
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• 2016

Concrete-filled double skin steel tube (CFDST) beam-columns are widely used in industrial plants, subways, high-rise buildings and arch bridges. The CFDST columns have the same advantages as traditional CFT members. Moreover, they have lighter weight, higher bending stiffness, better cyclic performance, and have higher fire resistance capacities than their CFT counterparts. The scope of this study is to develop finite element models that can predict accepted capacities of double skin concrete-filled tube columns under the combined effect of axial and bending actions. The analysis results were studied to determine the distribution of stresses among the different components and the effect of the concrete core on the outer and inner steel tube. The developed models are first verified against the available experimental data. Accordingly, an extensive parametric study was performed considering different key factors including load eccentricity, slenderness ratio, concrete compressive strength, and steel tube yield strength. The results of the performed parametric study are intended to supplement the experimental research and examine the accuracy of the available design formulas.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.263-279
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• 2022

With the span and arch rib size of concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) arch bridges increase, the hydration heat of pumped mass concrete inside large-size steel tube causes a significant temperature variation, leading to a risk of thermal stress-induced cracking during construction. In order to tackle this phenomenon, a hydration heat conduction model based on hydration degree was established through a nonlinear temperature analysis incorporating an exothermic hydration process to obtain the temperature field of large-size CFST. Subsequently, based on the evolution of elastic modulus based on hydration degree and early-age creep rectification, the finite element model (FEM) model and analytical study were respectively adopted to investigate the variation of the thermal stress of CFST during hydration heat release, and reasonable agreement between the results of two methods is found. Finally, a comparative study of the thermal stress with and without considering early-age creep was conducted.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.415-429
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• 2017

This paper focuses on the impact of the wave passage effect on the long-span bridge. In order to make the wave passage effect more obvious, ground motion samples are selected from the near-fault ground motion of the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake and an arch bridge with a 280m main span is selected as a bridge sample. The motion ground samples are divided into two groups according to the characteristics of near-fault. A sequence of fragility curves is developed. It is shown that the seismic damage is increased by the wave passage effect and the increase is more obvious in the near-fault ground motion.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.645-655
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• 2017

To determine the seismic applicability of a long-span railway concrete upper-deck arch bridge with concrete-filled steel-tube (CFST) rigid skeleton ribs, some fundamental principles and seismic approaches for long-span bridges are investigated to update the design methods in the current Code for Seismic Design of Railway Engineering of China. Ductile and mixed isolation design are investigated respectively to compare the structural seismic performances. The flexural moment and plastic rotation demands and capacities are quantified to assess the seismic status of the ductile components. A kind of triple friction pendulum (TFP) system and lead-plug rubber bearing are applied simultaneously to regularize the structural seismic demands. The numerical analysis shows that the current ductile layout with continuous rigid frame approaching spans should be strengthened to satisfy the demands of rare earthquakes. However, the mixed isolation design embodies excellent seismic performances for the continuous girder approaching span of this railway arch bridge.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2015

Among the destruction instances of half-through arch bridges, the shorter hangers are more likely to be ruined. For a thorough investigation of the hanger system durability, we have studied vehicle impact effect on hangers with vehicle-bridge coupling method for a half-through concrete-filled-steel-tube arch bridge. A numerical method has been applied to simulate the variation of dynamic internal force (stress) in hangers under different vehicle speeds and road surface roughness. The characteristics and differences in impact effect among hangers with different length (position) are compared. The impact effect is further analyzed comprehensively based on the vehicle speed distribution model. Our results show that the dynamic internal force induced by moving vehicles inside the shorter hangers is significantly greater than that inside the longer ones. The largest difference of dynamic internal force among the hangers could be as high as 28%. Our results well explained a common phenomenon in several hanger damage accidents occurred in China. This work forms a basis for hanger system's fatigue analysis and service life evaluation. It also provides a reference to the design, management, maintenance, monitoring, and evaluation for this kind of bridge.