• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.615-627
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• 2013

One of the most common defects in reinforced concrete bridge decks is corrosion of steel reinforcing bars. This invisible defect reduces the deck stiffness and affects the bridge's serviceability. Regular monitoring of the bridge is required to detect and control this type of damage and in turn, minimize repair costs. Because the corrosion is hidden within the deck, this type of damage cannot be easily detected by visual inspection and therefore, an alternative damage detection technique is required. This research develops a non-destructive method for detecting reinforcing bar corrosion. Experimental modal analysis, as a non-destructive testing technique, and finite element (FE) model updating are used in this method. The location and size of corrosion in the reinforcing bars is predicted by creating a finite element model of bridge deck and updating the model characteristics to match the experimental results. The practicality and applicability of the proposed method were evaluated by applying the new technique to a two spans bridge for monitoring steel bar corrosion. It was shown that the proposed method can predict the location and size of reinforcing bars corrosion with reasonable accuracy.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2010

The displacements of steel deck bridge due to construction step are measured, and three dimensional analysis with full modeling is carried out to compare with the measured results. Three dimensional structural analyses considering construction step by large block construction method are accomplished with verified model. The conclusions are as follows. 1. Comparing the data of grid analysis with the result of 3D full modeling in steel deck bridge, the design method using grid analysis has a limit for describing the displacements of curved bridge. The analysis of 3D full modeling has been proved as more accurate method. The differentiation of results in two methods is about 10%~20%. 2. It is verified that the maximum displacement of during construction is 1.7 times larger than the displacement of final construction. 3. The bridge behavior considering the construction step is somewhat different from that of final stage in whole structure and the displacement and stress during construction is larger than that of final construction. Therefore, it needs the reasonable structural design considering the construction step to get economical efficiency and a high competitive construction.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.2A
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• pp.131-143
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• 2009

Under transverse earthquake shaking, arching action of bridge structures develops along the deck between the abutments thus providing the so-called deck resistance. The magnitude of the arching action for bridge structures is dependent on the number of spans, connection condition between deck and abutment or piers, and stiffness ratio between superstructure and substructure. In order to investigate the arching action effects for inelastic seismic responses of PSC Box bridges, seismic responses evaluated by pushover analysis, capacity spectrum analysis and nonlinear time-history analysis are compared for 18 example bridge structures with two types of span numbers (short bridge, SB and long bridge, LB), three types of pier height arrangement (regular, semi-regular and irregular) and three types of connection condition between superstructure and substructure (Type A, B, C). The arching action effects (reducing inelastic displacement and increasing resistance capacity) for short bridge (SB) is more significant than those for long bridge (LB). Semi-regular and irregular bridge structures have more significant arching action than regular bridges.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.189-196
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• 2001

Recent days composite bridge deck is gaining attraction due to many advantages such as light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, and high durability. In this study, composite sandwich deck models of hat, box, and triangular section type were fabricated by VARTM process. For those models, three point flexural test was carried out both in strong and weak axis. The experimental results are compared with each other to determine efficient section type. Also finite element analysis was performed and compared with experiments to verify analysis model. It has been demonstrated that composite sandwich deck can be used as bridge deck in the new construction and rehabilitation work.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.801-813
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• 2015

Flexural stiffness of bridge spans has become even more important parameter since Eurocode 1 introduced for railway bridges the serviceability limit state of resonance. For simply supported bridge spans it relies, in general, on accurate assessment of span moment of inertia that governs span flexural stiffness. The paper presents three methods of estimation of the equivalent moment of inertia for such spans: experimental, analytical and numerical. Test loading of the twin truss bridge spans and test results are presented. Recorded displacements and the method of least squares are used to find an "experimental" moment of inertia. Then it is computed according to the analytical method that accounts for joint action of truss girders and composite deck as well as limited span shear stiffness provided by diagonal bracing. Finally a 3D model of finite element method is created to assess the moment of inertia. Discussion of results is given. The comparative analysis proves efficiency of the analytical method.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.179-192
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• 2008

In a wind tunnel experiment employing a reduced scale model, Reynolds number (Re) can hardly be respected. Its effects on the aerodynamics of closed-box bridge decks have been the subject of research in recent years. Stonecutters Bridge in Hong Kong is a cable-stayed bridge having an unprecedented central span of 1018m. The issue of Re sensitivity was raised early in the design phase of the deck of Stonecutters Bridge. The objective of this study is to summarise the results of various wind tunnel experiments in order to demonstrate the effect of Re on the steady state aerodynamic force coefficients. The results may provide an insight on the choice of scale for section model experiments in bridge design projects. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of forces on bridge deck section was also carried out to see how CFD results are compared with experimental results.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.5 no.2_3_4
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• pp.277-290
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• 2002

A two dimensional discrete vortex method (DIVEX) has been developed at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Glasgow, to predict unsteady and incompressible flow fields around closed bodies. The basis of the method is the discretisation of the vorticity field, rather than the velocity field, into a series of vortex particles that are free to move in the flow field that the particles collectively induce. This paper gives a brief description of the numerical implementation of DIVEX and presents the results of calculations on a recent suspension bridge deck section. The results from both the static and flutter analysis of the main deck in isolation are in good agreement with experimental data. A brief study of the effect of flow control vanes on the aeroelastic stability of the bridge is also presented and the results confirm previous analytical and experimental studies. The aeroelastic study is carried out firstly using aerodynamic derivatives extracted from the DIVEX simulations. These results are then assessed further by presenting results from full time-dependent aeroelastic solutions for the original deck and one of the vane cases. In general, the results show good qualitative and quantitative agreement with results from experimental data and demonstrate that DIVEX is a useful design tool in the field of wind engineering.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.84-89
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• 2008

Glass fiber reinforced composite decks have high-strength, light-weight and high durability. The composite decks having vertical snap-fit connections are designed for pedestrian bridges and their structural behavior are studied. Especially in this paper, local behavior of the developed composite deck for pedestrian bridge is verified by both analysis and experiment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2013

In this study, by considering the rail fastening support distance and the distance between the bridge and the abutment, the behavior of concrete track installed on a railway bridge end deck and the bridge end rotation were analyzed. In order to analyze the track-bridge interaction, bridge and abutment specimens with concrete track structures were designed and used in laboratory testing. At a constant fastening support distance, an increase in the bridge end rotation caused an increase in the displacement of the rail. Therefore, the displacement of the rail directly affects the rail and clip stress. Further, it is inferred that the results of multiple regression analysis obtained using measured data such as angle of bridge end rotation and fastening support distance can be used to predict the track-bridge interaction forces acting on concrete track installed on railway bridge deck ends.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.161-175
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• 2018

In this study, in-situ dynamic tests of the world's longest steel box tied-arch bridge over the Yangtze River, China, are reported. The double deck bridge supports highway and monorail systems at upper and lower levels, respectively. Strain, displacement, and acceleration responses were measured and used to investigate the vibration characteristics of the bridge when excited by running trains and/or trucks at a speed of 5-60 km/h, train braking, and truck bouncing. Impact factors were correlated with the running speed of trains and trucks. A three-dimensional finite element model of the coupled monorail-train-bridge vibration system accounting for track irregularities was established to understand the system behavior and validated by the experimental results. Truck bouncing was the dominant impact factor on bridge responses. The running speed of vehicles determined the riding comfort of traveling trains.