35 / 2022-03-20 17:54:33

Load Distribution Factors in Curved Composite Multi-Box Girder Bridges with Corrugated Steel Web

Corrugated steel web,Curved composite bridges,Load distribution factor,Rigid-jointed girder method,Finite Element Method (FEM)

Steel-concrete composite multi-box girder bridges with corrugated steel web have been widely used in curved bridge structures due to their advantages such as high bearing capacity, light self-weight, and convenient construction. The curve layout and live load distribution significantly affect the magnitude of stress developed in the composite girders and have not been fully addressed in design codes. In this study, to evaluate the force distribution of multi-girder composite bridges with corrugated steel web under live loads, an experimentally calibrated parametric investigation is employed with the finite element method. First, scaled model experiments on both simply-supported curved single- and double-box girder bridges are carried out, with setting the curvature as the main test variable. A series of live load conditions with different loading positions are applied to the bridge girders, and the distributions of the stress, deflection, and reaction force in key sections are intensively analyzed. In addition, a three-dimension finite element modeling is conducted to determine the moment distribution factor of curved composite girder bridges with corrugated steel web by considering different configuration parameters, including the curvature, span length, girder spacing, cross bracing layout, and the number of girders. Finally, the design formula of the transverse load-distributing influence line for curved composite multi-box girder bridges is developed by the rigid-jointed girder (RJG) method. The validity of the proposed equations is verified by comparing their theoretical prediction with the test responses and numerical results.