• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.307-319
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• 2020

The upper chords in half-through truss bridges are prone to buckling due to a lack of the upper transverse connections. Taking into account geometric and material nonlinearity, nonlinear finite-element analysis of a simple supported truss bridge was carried out to exhibit effects of different types of initial imperfections. A half-wave of initial imperfection was proved to be effective in the nonlinear buckling analysis. And a parameter analysis of initial imperfections was also conducted to reveal that the upper chords have the greatest impact on the buckling, followed by the bottom chords, vertical and diagonal web members. Yet initial imperfections of transverse beams have almost no effect on the buckling. Moreover, using influence surface method, the combinatorial effects of initial imperfections were compared to demonstrate that initial imperfections of the upper chords play a leading role. Furthermore, the equivalent effective length coefficients of the upper chord were derived to be 0.2~0.28 by different methods, which implies vertical and diagonal web members still provide effective constraints for the upper chord despite a lack of the upper transverse connections between the two upper chords. Therefore, the geometrical and material nonlinear finite-element method is effective in the buckling analysis due to its higher precision. Based on nonlinear analysis and installation deviations of members, initial imperfection of l/500 is recommended in the nonlinear analysis of half-through truss bridges without initial imperfection investigation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.387-401
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• 2016

This paper takes a half-through steel truss arch bridge as an example. A seismic analysis is conducted with nonlinear finite element method. Contrast models are established to discuss the effect of simplified method for main girder on the accuracy of the result. The influence of seismic wave direction and wave-passage on seismic behaviors are analysed as well as the superstructure and arch ring interaction which is mostly related with the supported bearings and wind resistant springs. In the end, the application of cable-sliding aseismic devices is discussed to put forward a layout principle. The main conclusions include: (1) The seismic response isn't too distinctive with the simplified method of main girder. Generally speaking, the grillage method is recommended. (2) Under seismic input from different directions, arch foot is usually the mostly dangerous section. (3) Vertical wave input and horizontal wave-passage greatly influence the seismic responses of arch ring, significantly increasing that of midspan. (4) The superstructure interaction has an obvious impact on the seismic performance. Half-through arch bridges with long spandrel columns fixed has a less response than those with short ones fixed. And a large stiffness of wind resistant spring makes the the seismic responses of arch ring larger. (5) A good isolation effectiveness for half-through arch bridge can be achieved by a reasonable arrangement of CSFABs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.423-434
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• 2011

Tongwamen Bridge is a critical link between Dongmen Island and the land in Shipu town, Zhejiang province, China. It is a 238 m span, half-through, concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) X-type arch bridge. The width of the deck is only 10 m, yielding a width-to-span ratio of 1/23.8. The plane truss type section rib was adopted, which made of two CFST chords and web member system. The lateral stability is the key issue to this bridge. However, the existing researches on Tongwamen Bridge's lateral stability are all the deterministic structural analysis. In this paper, a new strategy for positioning sampling points of the response surface method (RSM), based on the composite method combining RSM with geometric method for structural reliability analysis, is employed to obtain the reliability index of lateral stability. In addition the correlated parameters were discussed in detail to find the major factors. According to the analysis results, increasing the stiff of lateral braces between the arch ribs and setting the proper inward-incline degree of the arch rib can enhance obviously the reliability of lateral stability. Moreover, the deck action of non-orienting force is less than the two factors above. The calculated results indicate that the arch ribs are safe enough to keep excellent stability, and it provides the foundation that the plane truss rib would be a competitive solution for a long-span, narrow, CFST arch bridge.