• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.353-370
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• 2013

This paper presents a new method to study the impact factor of an old bridge based on the model updating technique. Using the genetic algorithm (GA) by minimizing an objective function of the residuals between the measured and predicted responses, the bridge and vehicle coupled vibration models were updated. Based on the displacement relationship and the interaction force relationship at the contact patches, the vehicle-bridge coupled system can be established by combining the equations of motion of both the bridge and vehicles. The simulated results show that the present method can simulate precisely the response of the tested bridge; compared with the other bridge codes, the impact factor specified by the bridge code of AASHTO (LRFD) is the most conservative one, and the value of Chinese highway bridge design code (CHBDC) is the lowest; for the large majority of old bridges whose road surface conditions have deteriorated, calculating the impact factor with the bridge codes cannot ensure the reliable results.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 한국철도학회 2007년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.1077-1092
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• 2007

The structural analysis model for estimate of load carrying capacity of railway bridge on service line is important to determine safety of bridges in service, we need to take response of bridge exactly, applying analysis model similar to the real railway bridge most. Track structure which is to distribute loads and decrease vibrations occurred from running train is constructed on the railway bridges. And it is important factor which should be considered to understand exact dynamic and static responses of bridge. But track structure is currently classified as a none structural members in the structural analysis model for estimating load carrying capacity of railway bridge and not considered in analysis model. That's the reason it is difficult to understand exact behavior of bridges. Therefore, the major objective of this study is to develop an analytical track-bridge model which is similar to real railway bridges considering track structure for safety assessment of railway bridge on service line to be effectively done.

• International Journal of Railway
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.83-89
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• 2010

This paper attempts to extract the fundamental dynamic properties, i.e. natural frequencies, damping ratios of the 48 m-long, $20^{\circ}$ skewed real bridge with PSC girders wrapped by a steel plate. The forced vibration test is achieved by mounting 12 Hz-capacity of artificial oscillator on the top of bridge deck. The acceleration histories at the 9 different locations of deck surface are recorded using accelerometors. From this full-scaled vibration test, the two possible resonance frequencies are detected at 2.38 Hz and 9.86 Hz of the skewed bridge deck by sweeping a beating frequency up to 12 Hz. The absolute acceleration/energy exhibits much higher in case of higher-order twist mode, 9.86 Hz due to the skewness of bridge deck which leads asymmetric situation of vibration. This implies the test bridge is under swinging vertically in fundamental flexure mode while the bridge is also flickered up and down laterally at 9.86 Hz. This is probably by asymmetric geometry of skewed deck. A detailed 3D beam-shell bridge models using finite elements are performed under a series of train loads for modal dynamic analyses. Thereby, the effect of skewness is examined to clarify the lateral flickering caused by asymmetrical geometry of bridge deck.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.167-181
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• 2012

Ultra high performance cementitious composite material is applied to the design of multifunctional permanent form for bridge pier in this paper. The basic properties and calculating constitutive model of ultra high performance cementitious composite are introduced briefly. According to momental theory of thin-walled shell, the analytical solutions of structural behavior parameters including circumferential stress, longitudinal stress and shear stress are derived for UHPCC thin-walled circular tube. Based on relevant code of construction loads (MHURD of PPC 2008), the calculating parameter expression of construction loads for UHPCC thin-walled circular tube is presented. With geometrical dimensions of typical pier, the structural behavior parameters of UHPCC tube under construction loads are calculated. The effects of geometrical parameters of UHPCC tube on structural behavior are analyzed and the design advices for UHPCC tube are proposed. This paper shall provide a scientific reference for UHPCC permanent form design and UHPCC hybrid structure application.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.549-562
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• 2017

The US railroad network carries 40% of the nation's total freight. Railroad bridges are the most critical part of the network infrastructure and, therefore, must be properly maintained for the operational safety. Railroad managers inspect bridges by measuring displacements under train crossing events to assess their structural condition and prioritize bridge management and safety decisions accordingly. The displacement of a railroad bridge under train crossings is one parameter of interest to railroad bridge owners, as it quantifies a bridge's ability to perform safely and addresses its serviceability. Railroad bridges with poor track conditions will have amplified displacements under heavy loads due to impacts between the wheels and rail joints. Under these circumstances, vehicle-track-bridge interactions could cause excessive bridge displacements, and hence, unsafe train crossings. If displacements during train crossings could be measured objectively, owners could repair or replace less safe bridges first. However, data on bridge displacements is difficult to collect in the field as a fixed point of reference is required for measurement. Accelerations can be used to estimate dynamic displacements, but to date, the pseudo-static displacements cannot be measured using reference-free sensors. This study proposes a method to estimate total transverse displacements of a railroad bridge under live train loads using acceleration and tilt data at the top of the exterior pile bent of a standard timber trestle, where train derailment due to excessive lateral movement is the main concern. Researchers used real bridge transverse displacement data under train traffic from varying bridge serviceability levels. This study explores the design of a new bridge deck-pier experimental model that simulates the vibrations of railroad bridges under traffic using a shake table for the input of train crossing data collected from the field into a laboratory model of a standard timber railroad pile bent. Reference-free sensors measured both the inclination angle and accelerations of the pile cap. Various readings are used to estimate the total displacements of the bridge using data filtering. The estimated displacements are then compared to the true responses of the model measured with displacement sensors. An average peak error of 10% and a root mean square error average of 5% resulted, concluding that this method can cost-effectively measure the total displacement of railroad bridges without a fixed reference.

• Wind and Structures
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.43-63
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• 2016

In conventional buffeting theory, it is assumed that the aerostatic coefficients along a bridge deck follow the strip assumption. The validity of this assumption is suspect for a cable-stayed bridge in the construction stages, due to the effect of significant aerodynamic interference from the pylon. This situation may be aggravated in skew winds. Therefore, the most adverse buffeting usually occurs when the wind is not normal to bridge axis, which indicates the invalidity of the traditional "cosine rule". In order to refine the studies of static wind load on the deck of cable-stayed bridge under skew wind during its most adverse construction stage, a full bridge 'aero-stiff' model technique was used to identify the aerostatic loads on each deck segment, in smooth oncoming flow, with various yaw angles. The results show that the shelter effect of the pylon may not be ignored, and can amplify the aerostatic loading on the bridge deck under skew winds ($10^{\circ}-30^{\circ}$) with certain wind attack angles, and consequently results in the "cosine rule" becoming invalid for the buffeting estimation of cable-stayed bridge during erection for these wind directions.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제6권8호
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• pp.905-920
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• 2010

Changes in temperature, loads and boundary conditions may have effects on the dynamic properties of large civil structures. Taking the Run Yang Suspension Bridge as an example, modal properties obtained from ambient vibration tests and from the structural health monitoring system of the bridge are used to identify and evaluate the modal parameter variability. Comparisons of these modal parameters reveal that several low-order modes experience a significant change in frequency from the completion of the bridge to its operation. However, the correlation analysis between measured modal parameters and the temperature shows that temperature has a slight influence on the low-order modal frequencies. Therefore, this paper focuses on the effects of the boundary conditions on the dynamic behaviors of the suspension bridge. An analytical model is proposed to perform a sensitivity analysis on modal parameters of the bridge concerning the stiffness of expansion joints located at two ends of bridge girders. It is concluded that the boundary conditions have a significant influence on the low-order modal parameters of the suspension bridge. In addition, the influence of vehicle load on modal parameters is also investigated based on the proposed model.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.319-332
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the design comparison of totally prefabricated bridge substructure system. Prefabricated bridge substructure systems are a relatively new and versatile alternative in substructure design that can offer numerous benefits. The system can reduce the work load at a construction site and can result in shorter construction periods. The prefabricated bridge substructures are designed by the methods of Korea Highway Bridge Code (KHBD) and load and resistance factor design (AASHTO-LRFD). For the design, the KHBD with DB-24 and DL-24 live loads is used. This study evaluates the design method of KHBD (2005) and AASHTO-LRFD (2007) for totally prefabricated bridge substructure systems. The computer program, reinforced concrete analysis in higher evaluation system technology was used for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures. A bonded tendon element is used based on the finite element method, and can represent the interaction between the tendon and concrete of a prestressed concrete member. A joint element is used in order to predict the inelastic behaviors of segmental joints. This study documents the design comparison of totally prefabricated bridge substructure and presents conclusions and design recommendations based on the analytical findings.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.209-217
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• 2002

The effects on structures caused by the replacement of the bridge bearings are investigated in this study. The bearings of the bridge are seriously deteriorated because of the breakage of lower concrete and the corrosion of the bearing itself. Also, the negative reaction states are created at some bearings on the abutment. Then, the bridge has occurred excessive vibrations and severe noise and impact whenever heavy trucks pass the above joints. The existing bearings are replaced using the adjustable bearing. The height of the bearings is adjusted to minimize the level difference of above joint and also to induce the appropriate distribution of live loads The effects of replacing the bearings are investigated by measuring the behaviors of the bridge without and with replacing works. The results without replacing the bearing show that the distribution of displacements and stresses is distorted in comparison with the analytical results. Also the bridge without replacing the bearing shows that the impact and vibration from the heavy trucks are larger than those with replacing the bearing. Load carrying capacity of the bridge increase about 1.8 times through replacing the bearing. The above results show that the structural performance of the bridge is improved by replacing only bridge bearings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제69권2호
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• pp.177-191
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• 2019

The local topography has a significant effect on the characteristics of seismic ground motion. This paper investigates the influence of topographic effects on the seismic response of a train-bridge system. A 3-D finite element model with local absorbing boundary conditions is established for the local site. The time histories of seismic ground motion are converted into equivalent loads on the artificial boundary, to obtain the seismic input at the bridge supports. The analysis of the train-bridge system subjected to multi-support seismic excitations is performed, by applying the displacement time histories of the seismic ground motion to the bridge supports. In a case study considering a bridge with a span of 466 m crossing a valley, the seismic response of the train-bridge system is analyzed. The results show that the local topography and the incident angle of seismic waves have a significant effect on the seismic response of the train-bridge system. Leaving these effects out of consideration may lead to unsafe analysis results.