• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.437-450
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• 2018

A bridge comprising of two girders, such as a twin steel box-girder bridge, is classified as fracture critical (i.e., non-redundant). In this study, the various bridge components of the twin steel box-girder bridge are investigated to determine if these could be utilized to improve bridge redundancy. Detailed finite-element (FE) models, capable of simulating prominent failure modes observed in a full-scale bridge fracture test, are utilized to evaluate the contributions of the bridge components on the ultimate behavior and redundancy of the bridge sustaining a fracture on one of its girders. The FE models incorporate material nonlinearities of the steel and concrete members, and are capable of capturing the effects of the stud connection failure and railing contact. Analysis results show that the increased tensile strength of the stud connection and (or) concrete strength are effective in improving bridge redundancy. By modulating these factors, redundancy could be significantly enhanced to the extent that the bridge may be excluded from its fracture critical designation.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.361-376
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• 2019

In this research, bending analysis of a micro sandwich skew plate with isotropic core and piezoelectric composite face sheets reinforced by carbon nanotube on the elastic foundations are studied. The classical plate theory (CPT) are used to model micro sandwich skew plate and to apply size dependent effects based on modified strain gradient theory. Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach is considered for the effective mechanical properties of the nanocomposite face sheets. The governing equations of equilibrium are derived using minimum principle of total potential energy and then solved by extended Kantorovich method (EKM). The effects of width to thickness ratio and length to width of the sandwich plate, core-to-face sheet thickness ratio, the material length scale parameters, volume fraction of CNT, the angle of skew plate, different boundary conditions and types of cores on the deflection of micro sandwich skew plate are investigated. One of the most important results is the reduction of the deflection by increasing the angle of the micro sandwich skew plate and decreasing the deflection by decreasing the thickness of the structural core. The results of this research can be used in modern construction in the form of reinforced slabs or stiffened plates and also used in construction of bridges, the wing of airplane.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.399-414
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• 2021

This paper aims to verify the feasibility of rubber rings to mitigate the shear concentration in perfobond connector (PBL) groups. Firstly, modified push-out tests for five specimens with four holes were conducted to investigate the effects of rubber rings on the shear mechanism of PBL groups. The test results showed that by employing rubber rings on partial holes, more shear forces were distributed to the holes without rubber rings. The rubber rings significantly improved the slip ability of the specimens, and the ductility of PBL groups is dependent on the number and thickness of rubber rings. Subsequently, three-dimensional numerical models were established and validated by the experimental results. According to the plastic strain distribution in concrete dowels, the action principle of rubber rings in PBL groups was explained. Furthermore, the parametric study was conducted to investigate the influential factors on shear distributions, including the width of steel plates, the hole spacing, the number of holes, the rubber ring thickness, and the positions of rubber rings. The parametric analysis results showed that the redistribution of shear forces is significantly affected by the rubber rings with the smallest thickness. By properly employing rubber rings in PBL groups, the shear forces of holes are more even. Finally, an analytical model for PBL groups with rubber rings was proposed to predict the shear distribution at the serviceability stage.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.407-417
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• 2023

After a disaster like the catastrophic earthquake, the government have to use rapid assessment of the condition (or damage) of bridges, buildings and other infrastructures is mandatory for rapid feedbacks, rescue and post-event management. Many domain schemes based on the measured vibration computations, including least squares estimation and neural fuzzy logic control, have been studied and found to be effective for online/offline monitoring of structural damage. Traditional strategies require all external stimulus data (input data) which have been measured available, but this may not be the generalized for all structures. In this article, a new method with unknown inputs (excitations) is provided to identify structural matrix such as stiffness, mass, damping and other nonlinear parts, unknown disturbances for example. An analytical solution is thus constructed and presented because the solution in the existing literature has not been available. The goals of this paper are towards access to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services, promotion of inclusive and sustainable urbanization and participation, implementation of sustainable and disaster-resilient buildings, sustainable human settlement planning and manage. Simulation results of linear and nonlinear structures show that the proposed method is able to identify structural parameters and their changes due to damage and unknown excitations. Therefore, the goal is believed to achieved in the near future by the ongoing development of AI and control theory.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.6 s.73
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• pp.725-736
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• 2004

A new type of girder, called steel-confined prestressed concrete girder (SCP girder), has been developed, which maximizes the structural advantages of concrete, steel, and PS tendon, and improves on the shortcomings of steel plate girder, PSC I-girder, and preflex girder bridge for use in the construction of middle- or long-span bridges. To verify the propriety of design, structural safety, and applicability of this girder, a static load test was carried out (Kim et al.., 2002). Since the main damage typically sustained by steel bridges results from the fatigue caused by the repetition of traffic loads, fatigue safety must therefore be guaranteed in applying the SCP girder in the construction of real bridges. In this study, a fatigue test was carried out to investigate fatigue behavior and provide basic data for fatigue design. Based on the fatigue test, the fatigue safety of the girder was estimated. For the fatigue test, 10-m specimens were designed for a standard-design truckload (DB-24). A static load test was also performed before the fatigue test to analyze the structural behavior of the specimens. After the fatigue test, outer steel plates were removed to observe the condition of the concrete in the girder.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.333-345
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• 2008

concrete deck bridges are increasingly aplied to twin- girder bridges and open-stel box girder bridges.One of the most dificult isues in the design of shear conect ors is the mater of achieving ful composite action. Many connectors in smal area require a significant section los of precast decks resulting in difficult reinforcement details. In this closer spacing than the required minimum spacing in the design codes was evaluated through static tests. Test results s howed that the ultimate strength decreased as the conector spacing was reduced. The strength enhancement was observed due to aditional reinforcement for precast slabs or for shear pockets. Thus, the design of group stud shear connection needs to anticipate failure modes and the conector failure should be induced. Based on the test results, an empirical equation consi dering stud spacing was proposed to evaluate the ultimate strength of group stud shear conection. Fatigue tests showed n o reduction in fatigue life of the group stud shear conection in the range of this research. Details of the precast decks wer e enhanced using the findings of the study.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 1993

This paper develops practical and realistic reliability models and methods for the evaluation of system-reliability and system reliability-based rating of various types of box-girder bridge superstructures. The strength limit state model for box-girder bridges suggested in the paper are based on not only the basic flexural strength but also the strength interaction equations which simultaneously take into account flexure, shear and torsion. And the system reliability problem of box-girder superstructure is formulated as parallel-series models obtained from the FMA(Failure Mode Approach) based on major failure mechanisms or critical failure states of each girder. In the paper, an improved IST(Importance Sampling Technique) simulation algorithm is used for the system reliability analysis of the proposed models. This paper proposes a practical but rational approach for the evaluation of capacity rating in terms of the equivalent system-capacity rating corresponding to the estimated system-reliability index which is derived based on the concept of the equivalent FOSM(First Order Second Moment) form of system reliability index. The results of the reliability evaluation and rating of existing bridges indicate that the reserved reliability and capacity rating at system level are significantly different from those of element reliability or conventional methods especially in the case of highly redundant box-girder bridges.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.233-245
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• 2007

Previous finite element studies have shown that AASHTO Standard load distribution factor (LDF) equations appear to be conservative for longer spans and larger girder spacing, but too permissible for short spans and girder spacing. AASHTO LRFD specification defines the distribution factor equation for girder spacing, span length, slab thickness, and longitudinal stiffness. However, this equation requires an iterative procedure to correctly determine the LDF value due to an initially unknown longitudinal stiffness parameter. This study presents a simplified LDF equation for interior and exterior girders of two-span continuous I-girder bridges that does not require an iterative design procedure. The finite element method was used to investigate the effect of girder spacing, span length, slab thickness, slab width, and spacing and size of bracing. The computer program, GTSTRUDL, was used to idealize the bridge superstructures as the eccentric beam model, the concrete slab by quadrilateral shell elements, steel girders by space frame members, and the composite action between these elements by rigid links. The distribution factors obtained from these analyses were compared with those from the AASHTO Standard and LRFD methods. It was observed through the parametric studies that girder spacing, span length, and slab thickness were the dominant parameters compared with others. The LRFD distribution factor for the interior girder was found to be conservative in most cases, whereas the factor for the exterior girder to be unconservative in longer spans. Furthermore, a regression analysis was performed to develop simplified LDF formulas. The formulas developed in this study produced LDF values that are always conservative to those from the finite element method and are generally smaller than the LDF values obtained from the AASHTO LRFD specification. The proposed simplified equation will assist bridge engineers in predicting the actual LDF in two-span continuous I-girder bridges.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.3D
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• pp.499-509
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• 2006

Precast concrete deck has many advantages comparing with the in-situ concrete deck, and has been successfully applied to replacement of the deteriorated decks and to the newly constructed highway bridges in domestic region. In order to apply the precast decks into the railway bridges, however, differences of the load characteristics between the highway and the railway should be properly taken into account including the train load, longitudinal force of the continuous welded rail, acceleration or braking force, temperature change and shrinkage. Proper level of the longitudinal prestress of the tendons that can ensure integrity of the transverse joints in the deck system is of a primary importance. To this aim, the longitudinal tensile stresses induced by the design loads are derived using three-dimensional finite element analyses for the frequently adopted PSC composite girder railway bridge. The effect of the temperature change is also investigated considering the design codes and theoretical equations in an in-depth manner. The estimated proper prestress level to counteract those tensile stresses is above 2.4 MPa, which is similar to the case of the highway bridges.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2015

Deflection and deformation occur easily in structures with long length, such as bridges and pipelines. Shape monitoring is required for ensuring their structural health. A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor can be used for monitoring a large-scale structure because of its advantage of multiplexing. In this study, FBG sensors were used for monitoring a composite beam structure, and its strains were measured at multiple points. Thereafter, a shape estimation technique based on the strains was studied. Particularly, a three-dimensional shape estimation technique was proposed for accurate structural health monitoring. A simple experiment was conducted to verify the performance of the shape estimation technique. The result revealed that the estimated shape of the composite beam structure was in agreement with the actual shape obtained after the deformation of the specimen. Additionally, the deflection at a specific point was verified by comparing the estimated and actual deformations measured using a micrometer.