• International journal of steel structures
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1252-1264
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• 2018

Long span bridges such as steel cable stayed and suspension bridges are usually more flexible than short to medium span bridges and expected to have large deformations. Deflections due to live load for long span bridges are important since it controls the overall heights of the bridge for securing the clearance under the bridge and serviceability for securing the comfort of passengers or pedestrians. In case of sea-crossing bridges, the clearance of bridges is determined considering the height of the ship master from the surface of the water, the trim of the ship, the psychological free space, the tide height, and live load deflection. In the design of bridges, live load deflection is limited to a certain value to minimize the vibrations. However, there are not much studies that consider the live load deflection and its effects for long span bridges. The purpose of this study is to investigate the suitability of live load deflection limit and its actual effects on serviceability of bridges for steel cable-stayed and suspension bridges. Analytical study is performed to calculate the natural frequencies and deflections by design live load. Results are compared with various design limits and related studies by Barker et al. (2011) and Saadeghvaziri et al. (2012). Two long span bridges are selected for the case study, Yi Sun-Sin grand bridge (suspension bridge, main span length = 1545 m) and Young-Hung grand bridge (cable stayed bridge, main span length = 240 m). Long-term measured deflection data by GNSS system are collected from Yi Sun-Sin grand bridge and compared with the theoretical values. Probability of exceedance against various deflection limits are calculated from probability distribution of 10-min maximum deflection. The results of the study on the limitation of live load deflection are expected to be useful reference for the design, the proper planning and deflection review of the long span bridges around the world.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.243-256
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• 2019

Determination of the most meaningful structural modes and gaining insight into how these modes evolve are important issues for long-term structural health monitoring of the long-span bridges. To address this issue, modal parameters identified throughout the life of the bridge need to be compared and linked with each other, which is the process of mode tracking. The modal frequencies for a long-span bridge are typically closely-spaced, sensitive to the environment (e.g., temperature, wind, traffic, etc.), which makes the automated tracking of modal parameters a difficult process, often requiring human intervention. Machine learning methods are well-suited for uncovering complex underlying relationships between processes and thus have the potential to realize accurate and automated modal tracking. In this study, Gaussian mixture model (GMM), a popular unsupervised machine learning method, is employed to automatically determine and update baseline modal properties from the identified unlabeled modal parameters. On this foundation, a new mode tracking method is proposed for automated mode tracking for long-span bridges. Firstly, a numerical example for a three-degree-of-freedom system is employed to validate the feasibility of using GMM to automatically determine the baseline modal properties. Subsequently, the field monitoring data of a long-span bridge are utilized to illustrate the practical usage of GMM for automated determination of the baseline list. Finally, the continuously monitoring bridge acceleration data during strong typhoon events are employed to validate the reliability of proposed method in tracking the changing modal parameters. Results show that the proposed method can automatically track the modal parameters in disastrous scenarios and provide valuable references for condition assessment of the bridge structure.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.309-320
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• 2010

With taking the geometric nonlinearity of bridge structure into account, a framework is presented for predicting the dynamic responses of a long-span suspension bridge subjected to running train and turbulent wind. The nonlinear dynamic equations of the coupled train-bridge-wind system are established, and solved with the Newmark numerical integration and direct interactive method. The corresponding linear and nonlinear processes for solving the system equation are described, and the corresponding computer codes are written. The proposed framework is then applied to a schemed long-span suspension bridge with the main span of 1120 m. The whole histories of the train passing through the bridge under turbulent wind are simulated, and the dynamic responses of the bridge are obtained. The results demonstrate that the geometric nonlinearity does not influence the variation tendency of the bridge displacement histories, but the maximum responses will be changed obviously; the lateral displacement of bridge are more sensitive to the wind than the vertical ones; compared with wind velocity, train speed affects the vertical maximum responses a little more clearly.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.39-56
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• 2023

To ensure the wind stability of a long-span suspension bridge during deck erection under skew wind, based on the aerostatic and self-excited aerodynamic force models under skew wind, a computational approach of refined flutter analysis for long-span bridges under skew wind is firstly established, in which the effects of structural nonlinearity, the static wind action and full-mode coupling etc are fully considered, and the corresponding computational procedure is programmed. By taking the Runyang suspension bridge over the Yangtze River as example, the flutter stability of the bridge in completion under skew wind is then analyzed with the aerodynamic parameters of a similar bridge deck measured from the sectional model wind tunnel test under skew wind. Finally, through simulating the girder segments erected symmetrically from the midspan to towers, from the towers to midspan and simultaneously from the towers and midspan to the quarter points, respectively, the evolutions of flutter stability limits during the deck erection under skew wind are investigated numerically, the favorable aerodynamically deck erection sequence is proposed, and the influences of skew wind and static wind effect on the flutter stability of suspension bridge under construction are ascertained.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.71-76
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• 2006

In this paper, a long gauge Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor system is described and long gauge FBGs are well, suited for measuring the upper parts of the bridge piers under the extremely severe movement conditions. In the experiments, we used more than 30m long FBG sensors to measure the movement of top part of the bridge piers which are separated from the main bridge by cutting the decks. With the actuator, the deck and girders were pushed and released. We checked the movement of the top of the pier while releasing the pressure of the actuator with the long gauge fiber sensor. In order to measure the movement of the upper part of the pier, the reference point must be outside of the pier. Using the optical fiber sensors, one end of the sensor is attached to the top of the pier and the other end is attached to the bottom of the next pier. The fiber sensors showed good response to the release loading and we could calculate the movement of the top part of the pear.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.1057-1064
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• 2004

For New In-Cheon Airport. South Approach Section of Young long Great Bridge is to be special concerned to CWR due to substructure was already constructed former railroad bridge design specification. So we applied maintenance free system and CWR (Continuous Welded Rail) by ZLR(Zero Longitudinal Restraint) at bridge expansion joint part. This thesis generally introduce for CWR by ZLR at South Approach Section of Young long Great Bridge.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.745-765
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• 2014

In this paper, it is aimed to determine the finite element model updating effects on the structural behavior of long span concrete highway bridges. Birecik Highway Bridge located on the 81stkm of Sanliurfa-Gaziantep state highway over Firat River in Turkey is selected as a case study. The bridge consist of fourteen spans, each of span has a nearly 26m. The total bridge length is 380m and width of bridge is 10m. Firstly, the analytical dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies and mode shapes are attained from finite element analyses using SAP2000 program. After, experimental dynamic characteristics are specified from field investigations using Operational Modal Analysis method. Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition method in the frequency domain is used to extract the dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. Analytically and experimentally identified dynamic characteristics are compared with each other and finite element model of the bridge is updated to reduce the differences by changing of some uncertain parameters such as section properties, damages, boundary conditions and material properties. At the end of the study, structural performance of the highway bridge is determined under dead load, live load, and dynamic loads before and after model updating to specify the updating effect. Displacements, internal forces and stresses are used as comparison parameters. From the study, it is seen that the ambient vibration measurements are enough to identify the most significant modes of long span highway bridges. Maximum differences between the natural frequencies are reduced averagely from %46.7 to %2.39 by model updating. A good harmony is found between mode shapes after finite element model updating. It is demonstrated that finite element model updating has an important effect on the structural performance of the arch type long span highway bridge. Maximum displacements, shear forces, bending moments and compressive stresses are reduced %28.6, %21.0, %19.22, and %33.3-20.0, respectively.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.279-297
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• 2019

Strong winds threaten the safety of vehicles on long-span bridges considerably, which could force traffic authorities to reduce speed limits or even close these bridges to traffic. In order to maintain the safe and economic operation of a bridge, a reasonable evaluation of the driving safety on that bridge is needed. This paper aims at carrying outdriving safety analyses for three types of vehicles on a long-span bridge in crosswinds by considering the aerodynamic interference between the bridge and the vehicles based on the wind-vehicle-bridge coupling vibration analysis. Firstly, CFD numerical simulations along with previously obtained wind tunnel testing results were used to determine the aerodynamic force coefficients of the three types of vehicles on the bridge. Secondly, the dynamic responses of the bridge and the vehicles under crosswinds were simulated, and based on those, the driving safety analyses for the three types of vehicles on the bridge were carried out for both cases considering and not considering the aerodynamic interference between the vehicles and the bridge. Finally, the effect of the aerodynamic interference on the safety of the vehicles was investigated. The results show that the aerodynamic interference between the bridge and the vehicles not only affectsthe accident critical wind speed but also the accident type for all three types of vehicles. Such effects are also different for each of the three types of vehicles being studied.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.360-367
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• 2003

This paper presents passive vibration control method to suppress train-induced vibration on a long-span steel arch bridge. According to the train load frequency analysis, undesirable resonance of a bridge will occur when the impact frequency of the train axles are close to the modal frequencies of the bridge. Because the first mode shape of the long-span steel arch bridge may take anti-symmetric shape along the bridge direction, however, the optimal control configuration for resonance suppression should be considered carefully In this study, bridge-vehicle element is used to estimate the bridge-train interaction precisely. From the numerical simulation of a loom steel arch bridge under TGV-K train loading, dynamic magnification influences are evaluated according to vehicle moving speed and efficient control system with passive dampers are presented in order to diminish the vertical displacement and vertical acceleration.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.633-644
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• 2018

This paper presents the results of an assessment of the seismic fragility of a long, curved multi-frame bridge under multi-support earthquake excitations. To achieve this aim, the numerical model of columns retrofitted with elliptical steel jackets was developed and validated using existing experimental results. A detailed nonlinear numerical model of the bridge that can capture the inelastic response of various components was then created. Using nonlinear time-history analyses for a set of stochastically generated spatially variable ground motions, component demands were derived and then convolved with new capacity-based limit state models to obtain seismic fragility curves. The comparison of failure probabilities obtained from uniform and multi-support excitation analyses revealed that the consideration of spatial variability significantly reduced the median value of fragility curves for most components except for the abutments. This observation indicates that the assumption of uniform motions may considerably underestimate seismic demands. Moreover, the spatial correlation of ground motions resulted in reduced dispersion of demand models that consequently decreased the dispersion of fragility curves for all components. Therefore, the spatial variability of ground motions needs to be considered for reliable assessment of the seismic performance of long multi-frame bridge structures.