• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.405-420
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• 2016

Section model wind tunnel test is currently the main technique to investigate the flutter performance of long-span bridges. Further study about applying the wind tunnel test results to the aerodynamic optimization is still needed. Systematical parameters and test principle of the bridge section model are determined by using three long-span steel truss suspension bridges. The flutter critical wind at different attack angles is obtained through section model flutter test. Under the most unfavorable working condition, tests to investigate the effects that upper central stabilized plate, lower central stabilized plate and horizontal stabilized plate have on the flutter performance of the main beam were conducted. According to the test results, the optimal aerodynamic measure was chosen to meet the requirements of the bridge wind resistance in consideration of safety, economy and aesthetics. At last the credibility of the results is confirmed by full bridge aerodynamic elastic model test. That the flutter reduced wind speed of long-span steel truss suspension bridges stays approximately between 4 to 5 is concluded as a reference for the investigation of the flutter performance of future similar steel truss girder suspension bridges.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-96
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• 2020

The main structural elements of historical masonry arch bridges are arches, spandrel walls, piers and foundations. The most vulnerable structural elements of masonry arch bridges under transverse seismic loads, particularly in the case of out-of-plane actions, are spandrel wall. The vulnerability of spandrel walls under transverse loads increases with the increasing of their length and height. This paper computationally investigates the out-of-plane nonlinear seismic response of spandrel walls of long-span and high masonry stone arch bridges. The Malabadi Bridge with a main arch span of 40.86m and rise of 23.45m built in 1147 in Diyarbakır, Turkey, is selected as an example. The Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) material model adjusted to masonry structures, and cohesive interface interaction between the infill and the spandrel walls and the arch are considered in the 3D finite element model of the selected bridge. Firstly, mode shapes with and without cohesive interfaces are evaluated, and then out-of-plane seismic failure responses of the spandrel walls with and without the cohesive interfaces are determined and compared with respect to the displacements, strains and stresses.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1-10
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• 1992

Since the structural system of a prestressed concrete bridge erected by Incremental Launching Method is varying continuosly during construction, the main girder bears alternating stress resultants different from those under a service load condition. The magnitude of these stress resultants depends on span lengths, nose length and stiffness ratios between girder and nose. A parametric study is performed for various span lengths, nose lengths and stiffness ratios. In order to analyze structural systems varying at every launching step two programs are developed; a pre-processor which automatically produces a data file for each stage and a main-processor which can summarize the results of all stages. From the results, the relationships between optimum nose length and stiffness ratio are proposed for various span lengths.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.5 s.95
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• pp.639-648
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• 2006

A shear experiment of one-way monotonic loading was carried out with the shear span ratio as the main experimental variable for reinforced concrete beam. Using the finite element analysis as the experimental analysis tool and the analysis method to compute the shear resistance of small shear span ratio, a new macro-model composed of crooked main strut and sub strut is proposed in consideration of the effect of bond action between re-bar and concrete based on the experimental result. The experimental finding affirmed the validity of the proposed macro-model when the shear span ratio was at or below 0.75 and confirmed that the experimental result was the most consistent with the computed analysis result when the effective factor of concrete compressive strength was set at 0.75.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.290-295
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• 2001

Subsets pipelines are exposed to several potential risks of damage due to corrosion, soil instability, anchor impact and other hazards. One of the main risk factors for the safety of a subsea pipeline is its free spanning. This paper examines the safety of subsea pipelines with free span under axial compressive load. The variation of allowable lengths of dynamic free span is examined for generalized boundary conditions. The free span is modelled as a beam with an elastic foundations and the boundary condition is replaced by linear and rotational springs at each end. A dynamic free span curve is obtained with a function of non-dimensional parameters and can be used usefully for the design of subsea pipelines with a free span. A case study is carried out to introduce the application method of the curve.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.351-367
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• 2005

Multi-span beams carrying multiple point masses are widely used in engineering applications, but the literature for free vibration analysis of such structural systems is much less than that of single-span beams. The complexity of analytical expressions should be one of the main reasons for the last phenomenon. The purpose of this paper is to utilize the numerical assembly method (NAM) to determine the exact natural frequencies and mode shapes of a multi-span uniform beam carrying multiple point masses. First, the coefficient matrices for an intermediate pinned support, an intermediate point mass, left-end support and right-end support of a uniform beam are derived. Next, the overall coefficient matrix for the whole structural system is obtained using the numerical assembly technique of the finite element method. Finally, the natural frequencies and the associated mode shapes of the vibrating system are determined by equating the determinant of the last overall coefficient matrix to zero and substituting the corresponding values of integration constants into the related eigenfunctions respectively. The effects of in-span pinned supports and point masses on the free vibration characteristics of the beam are also studied.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.78-85
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• 1999

In this study, I-type girders used as main members of a two span continuous steel bridge, are optimally designed by a Load and Resistance Factor Design method(LRFD) using an numerical optimization method. The width, height web thickness and flange thickness of the main girder are set as design variables, and light weight design is attempted by choosing the cross-sectional area as an object function. The main program is coded with C++ and connected with optimization modul ADS, which is coded with FORTRAN. The results of the program show that the stress constraints of noncomposite section during the initial construction stage become active in the positive moment area and the service limit state constaints become active in the negative moment area.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.3
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• pp.255-272
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• 2023

Spatial cable systems can provide more transverse stiffness and torsional stiffness without sacrificing the vertical bearing capacity compared with conventional vertical cable systems, which is quite lucrative for long-span earth-anchored suspension bridges' development. Higher economy highlights the importance of refined form-finding analysis. Meanwhile, the internal connection between the lateral and vertical sags has not yet been specified. Given this, an analytic algorithm of form-finding for the earth-anchored suspension bridge with spatial cables is proposed in this paper. Through the geometric compatibility condition and mechanical equilibrium condition, the expressions for cable segment, the recurrence relationship between catenary parameters and control equations of spatial cable are established. Additionally, the nonlinear general reduced gradient method is introduced into fast and high-precision numerical analysis. Furthermore, the analytic expression of the lateral and vertical sags is deduced and discussed. This is very significant for the space design above the bridge deck and the optimization of the sag-to-span ratio in the preliminary design stage of the bridge. Finally, the proposed method is verified with the aid of two examples, one being an operational self-anchored suspension bridge (with spatial cables and a 260 m main span), and the other being an earth-anchored suspension bridge under design (with spatial cables and a 500 m main span). The necessity of an iterative calculation for hanger tensions on earth-anchored suspension bridges is confirmed. It is further concluded that the main cable and their connected hangers are in very close inclined planes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.6
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• pp.641-649
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• 2020

The determination of midtower longitudinal stiffness has become an essential component in the preliminary design of multi-tower suspension bridges. For a specific multi-tower suspension bridge, the midtower longitudinal stiffness must be controlled within a certain range to meet the requirements of sliding resistance coefficient and deflection-to-span ratio. This study presents a numerical method to divide different types of midtower and determine rational range of longitudinal stiffness for rigid midtower. In this method, influence curves of midtower longitudinal stiffness on sliding resistance coefficient and maximum vertical deflection-to-span ratio are first obtained from the finite element analysis. Then, different types of midtower are divided based on the regression analysis of influence curves. Finally, rational range for longitudinal stiffness of rigid midtower is derived. The Oujiang River North Estuary Bridge which is a three-tower four-span suspension bridge with two main spans of 800m under construction in China is selected as the subject of this study. This will be the first three-tower four-span suspension bridge with steel truss girders and concrete midtower in the world. The proposed method provides an effective and feasible tool for engineers to design midtower of multi-tower suspension bridges.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2017

The dynamic performance of railway bridges under high-speed trains draws the attention of bridge engineers. The vibration issue for long-span bridges under high-speed trains is still not well understood due to lack of validations through structural health monitoring (SHM) data. This paper investigates the correlation between bridge acceleration and train speed based on structural dynamics theory and SHM system from three foci. Firstly, the calculated formula of acceleration response under a series of moving load is deduced for the situation that train length is near the length of the bridge span, the correlation between train speed and acceleration amplitude is analyzed. Secondly, the correlation scatterplots of the speed-acceleration is presented and discussed based on the transverse and vertical acceleration response data of Dashengguan Yangtze River Bridge SHM system. Thirdly, the warning indexes of the bridge performance for correlation scatterplots of speed-acceleration are established. The main conclusions are: (1) The resonance between trains and the bridge is unlikely to happen for long-span bridge, but a multimodal correlation curve between train speed and acceleration amplitude exists after the resonance speed; (2) Based on SHM data, multimodal correlation scatterplots of speed-acceleration exist and they have similar trends with the calculated formula; (3) An envelope line of polylines can be used as early warning indicators of the changes of bridge performance due to the changes of slope of envelope line and peak speed of amplitude. This work also gives several suggestions which lay a foundation for the better design, maintenance and long-term monitoring of a long-span high-speed bridge.