• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.575-589
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• 2019

The main focus of this study is to numerically investigate the influence of strong earthquake and tsunami-induced wave impact on the response and behavior of a cable-stayed steel bridge with large caisson foundations, by assuming that the earthquake and the tsunami come from the same fault motion. For this purpose, a series of numerical simulations were carried out. First of all, the tsunami-induced flow speed, direction and tsunami height were determined by conducting a two-dimensional (2D) tsunami propagation analysis in a large area, and then these parameters obtained from tsunami propagation analysis were employed in a detailed three-dimensional (3D) fluid analysis to obtain tsunami-induced wave impact force. Furthermore, a fiber model, which is commonly used in the seismic analysis of steel bridge structures, was adopted considering material and geometric nonlinearity. The residual stresses induced by the earthquake were applied into the numerical model during the following finite element analysis as the initial stress state, in which the acquired tsunami forces were input to a whole bridge system. Based on the analytical results, it can be seen that the foundation sliding was not observed although the caisson foundation came floating slightly, and the damage arising during the earthquake did not expand when the tsunami-induced wave impact is applied to the steel bridge. It is concluded that the influence of tsunami-induced wave force is relatively small for such steel bridge with large caisson foundations. Besides, a numerical procedure is proposed for quantitatively estimating the accumulative damage induced by the earthquake and the tsunami in the whole bridge system with large caisson foundations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.149-163
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• 2015

Orthotropic steel highway bridges exist almost everywhere in world, especially in Europe. The design of these bridges started very early in 20th century and ended with a conventional orthotropic steel bridge structure, which is today specified in DIN FB 103. These bridges were mostly built in 1960's and exhibit damages in steel structural parts. The primary reason of these damages is the high pressure that is induced by wheel- loads and therefore damages develop especially in heavy traffic lanes. Constructive rules are supplied by standards to avoid damages in orthotropic steel structural parts. These rules are first given in detail in the standard DIN 18809 (Steel highway- and pedestrian bridges- design, construction, fabrication) and then in DIN- FB 103 (Steel bridges). Bridges built in the past are today subject to heavier wheel loads and the frequency of loading is also increased. Because the vehicles produced today in 21st century are heavier than before and more people have vehicle in comparison with 20th century. Therefore dimensioning or strengthening of orthotropic steel bridges by using stiffer dimensions and shorter spans is an essence. In the scope of this study the complex geometry of conventional steel orthotropic bridge is generated by FE-Program and the effects of cross beam web thickness and cross beam span on steel bridge are assessed by means of a parameter study. Consequently, dimensional and constructional recommendations in association with cross beam thickness and span will be given by this study.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.607-618
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• 2017

In this research, a newly developed nature-inspired optimization method, the Lion Pride Optimization algorithm (LPOA), is utilized for optimal design of composite steel box girder bridges. A composite box girder bridge is one of the common types of bridges used for medium spans due to their economic, aesthetic, and structural benefits. The aim of the present optimization procedure is to provide a feasible set of design variables in order to minimize the weight of the steel trapezoidal box girders. The solution space is delimited by different types of design constraints specified by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Additionally, the optimal solution obtained by LPOA is compared to the results of other well-established meta-heuristic algorithms, namely Gray Wolf Optimization (GWO), Ant Lion Optimizer (ALO) and the results of former researches. By this comparison the capability of the LPOA in optimal design of composite steel box girder bridges is demonstrated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1221-1236
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• 2016

Modular structures consist of standardized modules and their connections. A modular bridge pier is proposed to accelerate bridge construction. Multiple concrete-filled steel tubes (CFTs) using commercial steel tubes were chosen as the main members. Buckling restrained bracings and enhanced connection details were designed to prevent premature low-cycle fatigue failure upon cyclic loading. The pier had a height of 7.95 m, widths of 2.5 m and 2.0 m along the strong and weak axis, respectively. Cyclic tests were performed on the modular pier to investigate structural performance. Test results showed that four CFT columns reached yielding without a premature failure of the bracing connections. The ultimate capacity of the modular pier was reasonably estimated based on the plastic-hinge-analysis concept. The modular CFT pier with enhanced bracing showed improved displacement ductility without premature failure at the welding joints.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.3 s.70
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• pp.325-332
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• 2004

Cross sections of steel-plate girder bridges are divided into three cross sections of non-composite, partially composite, and fully composite sections, according to their composite characteristics. The Korean provision for the partially and fully composite sections specifies general usage of the stud of shear connectors, whereas the one for the non-composite section specifies empirical usage of slab anchors. However, the actual behavior of the cross sections of steel-plate girder bridges using slab anchors is close not to the non-composite action, but to the partially composite action. Therefore analytical and experimental studies on partial composites of steel-plate girder bridges using slab anchors are performed in this study. Intial stiffness of the slab anchor is obtained by the experimental study for the first time, and the composite characteristic of simple-span and two-span continuous steel-plate girder bridges is investigated by the finite element analyses for the second time. Based on the obtained initial stiffness, the reduction effect of tensile stresses in the concrete-slab on the intermediate support of the continuous bridge is also considered herein.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.463-480
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• 2020

Although detailed shell analysis is suitable to predict the ductile crack initiation life of steel members, such detailed method adds time expense and complexity. In order to simply predict the ductile crack initiation life of stiffened steel bridge piers, a total of 33 cases are simulated to carry out the parametric analyses. In the analysis, the effects of the width-to-thickness ratio, slenderness ratio, plate thickness and so on are considered. Both shell analyses and beam analyses about these 33 cases are conducted. The plastic strain and damage index obtained from shell and beam analyses are compared. The modified factor β_s is determined based on the predicted results obtained from both shell and beam analyses in order to simulate the strain concentration at the base corner of the steel bridge piers. Finally, three experimental results are employed to verify the validity of the proposed method in this study.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.231-251
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• 2019

In the present study, a numerical and experimental investigation has been carried out on the seismic behavior of RC columns of a bridge which damaged under corrosive environments and retrofitted by various techniques including combined application of CFRP sheets and steel profiles. A novel hybrid retrofitting procedure, including the application of inner steel profiles and outer peripheral CFRP sheets, has been proposed for strengthening purpose. Seven large-scale RC columns of a Girder Bridge have been tested in the laboratory under the influence of simultaneous application of constant axial load and the lateral cyclic displacements. Having verified the finite element modeling, using ABAQUS software, the effects of important parameters such as the corrosion percentage of steel rebars and the number of CFRP layers have been evaluated. Based on the results, retrofitting of RC columns of the bridge with the proposed technique was effective in improving some measures of structural performance such as lateral strength degradation and higher energy absorption capability. However, the displacement ductility was not considerably improved whereas the elastic stiffness of the specimens has been increased.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.591-596
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• 2001

In case of continuous steel box-girder bridges, the magnitude of the longitudinal tensile stress on concrete in internal support is larger than the tensile strength of concrete. In this paper, the parametric study was performed to present the effective magnitude of the longitudinal prestress for reducing the longitudinal tensile stress to decrease under the tensile strength of concrete. The parametric study is conducted with changing the steel box-girder section and the span length of bridge. Three dimensional finite element analyses are conducted with ABAQUS program. The behavior of the steel box-girder bridge with prestress is investigated through experimental works on a analogous steel box-girder bridge model, and their results are compared with those of analytical studies.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.21-38
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• 2011

This study examines the influence of curved, steel, I-girder bridge configuration on girder end reactions and cross frame member forces during seismic events. Simply-supported bridge finite element models were created and examined under seismic events mimicking what could be experienced in AASHTO Seismic Zone 2. Bridges were analyzed using practical ranges of: radius of curvature; girder and cross frame spacings; and lateral bracing configuration. Results from the study indicated that: (1) radius of curvature had the greatest influence on seismic response; (2) interior (lowest radius) girder reactions were heavily influenced by parameter variations and, in certain instances, uplift at their bearings could be a concern; (3) vertical excitation more heavily influenced bearing and cross frame seismic response; and (4) lateral bracing helped reduce seismic effects but using bracing along the entire span did not provide additional benefit over placing bracing only in bays adjacent to the supports.

• 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.