• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.357-369
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• 2014

In the existing bridge management systems, assessment of the structural behavior is based on the results of visual inspections in which corresponding condition states are assigned to individual elements. In this process, limited attention is given to the correlation between bridge elements from structural perspective. Also, the uncertainty of parameters which affect the structural capacity is ignored. A system reliability-based assessment model is potentially an appropriate replacement for the existing procedures. The aim of this research is to evaluate the system reliability of existing conventional Steel-Reinforced bridge decks over time. The developed method utilizes the reliability theory and evaluates the structural safety for such bridges based on their failure mechanisms. System reliability analysis has been applied to simply-supported concrete bridge superstructures designed according to the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC-S6) and the deterioration pattern is achieved based on the reliability estimates. Finally, the bridge condition index of an old existing bridge in Montreal has been estimated using the developed deterioration pattern. The results obtained from the developed reliability-based deterioration model and from the evaluation done by bridge engineers have been found to be in accordance.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.679-688
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• 2017

A GFRP-concrete composite bridge deck is presented in this paper. This composite deck is composed of concrete and a GFRP plate and is connected by GFRP perfobond (PBL) shear connectors with penetrating GFRP rebar. There are many outstanding advantages in mechanical behavior, corrosion resistance and durability of this composite deck over conventional reinforced concrete decks. To analyze the shear and flexural performance of this GFRP-concrete composite deck, a static loading experiment was carried out on seven specimens. The failure modes, strain development and ultimate bearing capacity were thoroughly examined. Based on elastic theory and strain-based theory, calculation methods for shear and flexural capacity were put forward and revised. The comparison of tested and theoretical capacity results showed that the proposed methods could effectively predict both the flexural and shear capacity of this composite deck. The ACI 440 methods were relatively conservative in predicting flexural capacity and excessively conservative in predicting shear capacity of this composite deck. The analysis of mechanical behavior and the design method can be used for the design of this composite deck and provides a significant foundation for further research.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.295-316
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• 2015

A bridge widening technology using steel-concrete composite system was developed and is presented in this paper. The widened superstructure system consists of a newly built composite steel-concrete girder with concrete deck and steel diaphragms attached to the existing concrete girders. This method has been applied in several bridge widening projects in China, and one of those projects is presented in detail. Due to the higher stiffness-to-weight ratio and the rapid erection of composite girders, this widening method reveals benefits in both mechanical performance and construction. As only a few methods for the design of bridges with different types of girders are recommended in current design codes, a more accurate analytical method of estimating live load distribution on girder bridges was developed. In the analytical model, the effects of span length, girder pacing, diaphragms, concrete decks were considered, as well as the torsional and flexural stiffness of both composite box girders and concrete T girders. The study shows that the AASHTO LRFD specification procedures and the analytical models proposed in this paper closely approximate the live load distribution factors determined by finite element analysis. A parametric study was also conducted using the finite element method to evaluate the potential load carrying capacities of the existing concrete girders after widening.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.333-347
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• 2014

Multi-scale model can take both computational efficiency and accuracy into consideration when it is used to conduct elasto-plastic seismic response analysis for complex steel bridges. This paper proposed a method based on pushover analysis of member sharing the same section pattern to verify the accuracy of multi-scale model. A deck-through type steel arch bridge with a span length of 200m was employed for seismic response analysis using multi-scale model and fiber model respectively, the validity and necessity of elasto-plastic seismic analysis for steel bridge by multi-scale model was then verified. The results show that the convergence of load-displacement curves obtained from pushover analysis for members having the same section pattern can be used as a proof of the accuracy of multi-scale model. It is noted that the computational precision of multi-scale model can be guaranteed when length of shell element segment is 1.40 times longer than the width of section where was in compression status. Fiber model can only be used for the predictions of the global deformations and the approximate positions of plastic areas on steel structures. However, it cannot give exact prediction on the distribution of plastic areas and the degree of the plasticity.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.681-699
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• 2016

Steel box girders have two webs and two flanges on top that are usually connected with shear connectors to the concrete deck and are also known as tub girders. The end diaphragms of such bridges comprise of a stiffened steel plate welded to the inside of the girder at each end. The diaphragms play a major role in transferring vertical and lateral loads to the bearings and substructure. A review of literature shows that the cyclic behavior of diaphragms under earthquake loading has not been studied previously. This paper uses a nonlinear finite element model to study the behavior of the end diaphragms under gravity and seismic loads. Different bearing device and stiffener configurations have been considered. Affected areas of the diaphragm are distinguished.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.113-123
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• 2011

LCC analysis is a method that coordinates with function evaluation for value improvement, rather than a separate one for cost evaluation. Although its accuracy is rising, materials and structural types developed or applied relatively recently have yet to obtain a sufficient maintenance profile DB, inducing reliability to reduce from difficulties in estimating maintenance records. Based on the above mentioned background, this paper presents the LCC methodology of coordinating functional intensification matters with cost for analysis on alternatives with difficulties in setting maintenance profile. Recently, steel plate bridge deck pavements are faced with problems such as plastic deformation due to the increase in heavy vehicles and traffic, promoting the development of a new compound pavement. This paper execute LCC analysis by mentioning case studies of SMA, Guss and PSMA pavements to include performance scale compared between alternatives as relative evaluation coefficients into the maintenance profile.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.49-52
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• 2008

The tensile and bond performance of GFRP rebar are different from those of conventional steel reinforcement. It requires some studies on concrete members reinforced with GFRP reinforcing bars to apply it to concrete structures. GFRP has some advantages such as high specific strength, low weight, non-corrosive nature, and disadvantage of larger deflection due to the lower modulus of elasticity than that of steel. Bridge deck is a preferred structure to apply FRP rebars due to the increase of flexural capacity by arching action. This paper focuses on the behavior of concrete bridge deck reinforced with newly developed GFRP rebar. A total of three real size bridge deck specimens were made and tested. Main variable was reinforcement ratio of GFRP rebar. Static test was performed with the load of DB-24 level until failure. Test results were compared and analyzed with ultimate load, deflection behavior.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.51-69
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• 2023

In tied-arch bridges, a properly designed connection between the arch and the deck may become crucial, since the forces in the structure may be significantly reduced. This implies substantial material savings and, consequently, cheaper constructions. The introduction of the Nielsen cable arrangement (composed of V-shaped inclined hangers) in the last century was a milestone because it was able to reduce deflections and bending moments both in the arch and in the deck. So far, the Nielsen cable arrangement has proven to be successful in traditional vertical arch bridges. However, despite its advantages, it has not been widely applied to spatial arch bridges. Thus, this article analyses the difference between the structural behavior of spatial arch bridges with Nielsen-type cable arrangements with respect to those with classical vertical hanger configurations. The main goal is to verify whether the known effectiveness of the Nielsen cable arrangement for classical arch bridges is still preserved when applied to spatial arch bridges. In order to achieve this objective, and as the first part of our study, a set of different all-steel bridges composed of vertical and inclined arches with straight decks have been compared for both cable arrangements. As a major conclusion, for planar vertical arch bridges, the Nielsen-type cable arrangement is always the most effective. In addition, it also seems that, for spatial arch bridges composed of a straight deck and an inclined arch, it still keeps most of its effectiveness as long as the arch is moderately inclined.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

This research carried out to optimize crossbeams and stringers of steel box girder bridges, which are parts of floor system and support loading from the bridge deck. In the current design practice, the crossbeam is densely deployed with a spacing of 6 meters, and the stringer is placed between the crossbeams. The crossbeams and stringer are connected to the deck through slab anchors but the allowable stress of the compression flange is determined by the lateral-torsional buckling. To increase economic efficiency of the steel box girder bridges. the increased spacing of the crossbeam was studied. The study shows that the spacing can be increased up to 10 meters. However, higher strength steel plates are necessary. Shear studs rather than slab anchors are also recommended to prevent lateral-torsional buckling strength of the crossbeams and stringer.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.489-505
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• 2012

In this study, it is aim to perform the construction stage analysis of suspension bridges using time dependent material properties. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Suspension Bridge connecting the Europe and Asia in Istanbul is selected as an example. Finite element models of the bridge are modelled using SAP2000 program considering project drawing. Geometric nonlinearities are taken into consideration in the analysis using P-Delta large displacement criterion. The time dependent material strength variations and geometric variations are included in the analysis. Because of the fact that the bridge has steel structural system, only prestressing steel relaxation is considered as time dependent material properties. The structural behaviour of the bridge at different construction stages has been examined. Two different finite element analyses with and without construction stages are carried out and results are compared with each other. As analyses result, variation of the displacement and internal forces such as bending moment, axial forces and shear forces for bridge deck and towers are given with detail. It is seen that construction stage analysis has remarkable effect on the structural behaviour of the bridge.