• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.237-250
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• 2003

Since an orthotropic steel deck bridge has large number of design variables and shows complex structural behavior, it would be very difficult and impractical to directly use a Conventional Single Level (CSL) optimization algorithm for its optimum design. Thus, in this paper, an Improved Multi Level Design Synthesis (IMLDS) optimization algorithm is proposed to improve the computational efficiency. In the proposed IMLDS algorithm, a coordination method is introduced to divide the bridge into main girders and orthotropic steel deck with preserving the characteristics of the structural behavior. For an efficient optimization of the bridge, the IMLDS algorithm incorporates the various crucial approximation techniques such as constraints deletion, Automatic Differentiation (AD), stress reanalysis, and etc. In the case of orthotropic steel deck system, optimum design problems are characterized by mixed continuous discrete variables and discontinuous design space. Thus, a modified Genetic Algorithm (GA) is also applied to optimize discrete member design for orthotropic steel deck. From the numerical example, the efficiency and convergency of the IMLDS algorithm proposed in this paper is investigated. It may be positively stated that the IMLDS algorithm will lead to more effective and practical design compared with previous algorithms.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.357-374
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• 2015

Orthotropic decks composed of deck plate, ribs, cross beams and wearing surface are frequently used in industry to span long distances due to their light structures and load carrying capacities. As a result they are broadly preferred in industry and there are a lot of bridges of this type exist in the world. Nevertheless, some of them cannot sustain the anticipated service life and damages in form of cracks develop in steel components and wearing surface. Main reason to these damages is seen as the repetitive wheel loads, namely the fatigue loading. Solutions to this problem could be divided into two categories: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative solutions may be new design methodologies or innovative materials, whereas quantitative solution should be arranging dimensions of deck structure in order to resist wheel loads till the end of service life. Wearing surface on deck plate plays a very important role to avoid or mitigate these damages, since it disperses the load coming on deck structure and increases the bending stiffness of deck plate by forming a composite structure together with it. In this study the effect of Elastic moduli, Poisson ratio and thickness of wearing surface on the stresses emerged in steel deck and wearing surface itself is investigated using a FE-model developed to analyze orthotropic steel bridges.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.417-426
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• 2006

Various fatigue damages have been reported in orthotropic steel deck structures put upon girders. These damages are caused by complex behaviors of the deck, which is directly subjected to vehicle loads. To estimate the causes of fatigue cracks at the welded connected parts of the trough rib and the flor beam, and the trough rib and the deck plate, in orthotropic steel deck structures, FE analyses were first, performed in this study. Parameter studies were carried out to suggest effective structural details that consider fatigue, in which the main parameters are the thickness of the deck plate, the shape of the connection of the trough rib and the flor beam such as the slit form, and the welding length. This study suggests that the effective structural details improved the fatigue strength and discusses.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.177-184
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• 2004

Orthotropic steel deck bridge has much advantages such as the light deadweight, so the construction of orthotropic steel deck is profitable for the long-span bridges Although the system has a lot of merits, it happens some damages by the traffic density and the fatigue cracks of welding. The cross-connection of longitudinal rib and transversal rib is one of the weakest at the fatigue. The secondary stresses which are from the out-plane deformation of transversal rib and the torsion of longitudinal rib make the topical stress concentration phenomenon. The Bulkhead Plate for prevention of this stress concentration phenomenon was applied by changing the orthotropic steel deck of Williamsburg bridge in USA. But, it is principle that a Bulkhead Plate is not established in the domestic design standard. Therefore, it is estimated that the study for installation of Bulkhead Plate is needed. This study with considering these circumstances proves efficiency of Bulkhead Plate and will be presented optimal design details through finite element analysis according to change the geometrical of Bulkhead Plate and the cross-connection area of longitudinal and transversal rib

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.11 no.4 s.41
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• pp.363-372
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• 1999

This study proposes useful analysis models for automatic design of orthotropic steel deck bridges. For the selection of the best or the most proper analysis model this paper presents various analysis models based on grillage model, which are then compared with each other in terms of reliability of analysis, computing time and effectiveness. Also the selected analysis models are compared with Pelikan-Esslinger method well-known for orthotropic steel deck bridge analysis. The effectiveness of proposed analysis models is demonstrated by means of a numerical example that is a three-span continuous (60m+80m+60m=200m) orthotropic steel-box girder bridge.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.395-402
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• 2002

This study proposed a muti-objective optimum design method for rational optimizing of orthotropic steel deck bridges. This multi-objective optimum design method was found to be effective in optimizing multi-objective problems, considering cost and deflection functions. It may ve difficult to optimize orthotropic steel deck bridges using a conventional optimization, since the bridges have several parts and show complex structural behaviors. Therefore, the Pareto curve can be obtained by performing the multi-objective optimization for real orthotropic steel deck bridges, using the multi-level technique with excellent efficiency. A reasonable and economical design can be attained using the Parato curve in the cost and deflection functions of the bridge. Thus, more reasonable design values can be determined based on a comparison with those using a conventional design procedure.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.333-339
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• 2003

Recently, the bridges become greater according to development of a construction technology. This phenomenon requires long span bridge, so that increases the dead weight. The orthotropic steel deck bridges have much advantages such as the light dead weight and the reduction of construction period. And almost whole process of carried out is manufactured at factory, so it can cause the increase of quality authoritativeness. But orthotropic steel deck bridge is consist of structure by welding, it can not avoid a lot of welding jobs, defects and transformation by welding are becoming problem accordingly. Specially, topical stress concentration phenomenon in cross connection area of longitudinal and transverse rib causes fatigue failure. The Bulkhead Plate for prevention of this stress concentration phenomenon was applied by changing the orthotropic steel deck of Williamsburg bridge in USA. But, it is principle that a Bulkhead Plate is not established in the domestic design standard. Therefore, it is estimated that the study for installation of Bulkhead Plate is needed. This treatise with considering these circumstances proves efficiency of Bulkhead Plate and will be presented optimal design details through finite element analysis according to change the geometrical of Bulkhead Plate and tile cross-connection area of longitudinal and transverse rib.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.1084-1089
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• 2004

Recently, Orthotropic steel deck bridges, which have long span decks, have been regarded as one of economical as well as durable bridge types. However, Orthotropic steel deck bridge is used by a lot of welding, which may cause welding defect and deformation of connections. This kind of system happens some damages by the fatigue cracks of welding. The cross-connection of longitudinal rib and transversal rib is one of the weakest point because of the fatigue. The secondary stresses which are from the out-plane deformation of transversal rib and the torsion of longitudinal rib make the topical stress concentration phenomenon. But, it is principle that a Bulkhead Plate is not established in the domestic design standard. Therefore, it is estimated that a study for the installing of Bulkhead Plate is needed. This study with considering these circumstances proves efficiency of Bulkhead Plate and will be presented optimal design details through finite element analysis according to change the geometrical system of Bulkhead Plate and the cross-connection area of longitudinal and transversal rib

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2000.04b
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• pp.439-448
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• 2000

A multi-level design synthesis (MLDA) algorithm for efficiently optimizing orthotropic steel deck bridges is proposed in the paper, because it is usually very difficult to optimize orthotropic steel deck bridges using a conventional single-level (CSL) algorithn since the bridges have a large number of members and show complex structural behaviors. In the proposed MLDS algorithms a coordination method is introduced to divide the bridges into main girders and orthotropic steel decks and decomposition method is also used to reduce the number of design variables of the decks for system level optimization. For efficient optimization of the bridges the MLDS algorithm incorporates the crucial approximation techliques such as constraints deletion and stress reanalysis. The constraint deletion technique for deflection is found to be very useful for the optimization problem of the bridges, since a deflection constraint is usually inactive in the design. Considering the complex system of the bridges, the proposed the efficient stress reanalysis technique may prove to be a very effective method, since it does not require expensive design sensitivity analyses. The applicability and robustness of the MLDS algorithm is demonstrated using various numerical examples and compared with other algorithm presently available so far.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.906-913
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• 2006

The failure mechanism of a hollow bridge deck which is made of glass fiber reinforced polymer(GFRP) is investigated using both experiments and analysis. While the load-displacement behavior of the deck in the transverse direction shows a strong nonlinearity even in its initial response with relatively small magnitude of loads. In order to imporve the structural behavior of the deck in the transverse direction, we suggested that the empty space of the bridge deck is filled with a foam and investigated experimentally the static behavior of the orthotropic bridge deck which is made from GFRP and polyurethane foam. It is found that although the elastic modulus of the foam compared to that of the GFRP is about the order of $10^{-3}$, the structural behaviors in the weak axis such as nominal strength, stiffness, etc. are greatly improved. Owing to the low mass density of the foam used in this study, the bridge deck is still light enough with the improved structural properties.