Title : CONCRETE HOLLOW PLATE BRIDGE WITH HINGE JOINTS STRENGTHENED BY EXTERNAL PRESTRESSED FORCE
Authors : Xing Cheng (1), Xiang Yiqiang (1), Zhang Shuigen (2), and Xing Yuan (2)
Publication : 13th – 16th February 2013
Volume :
Pages : 8-Jan
Price : 250
Abstract : In order to solve the uneven load distribution problem and to study the mechanism of cracks along the articulated joints of the beams in the fabricated hollow plate girder bridges, an accurate three-dimensional finite element model was built according to a typical articulated concrete hollow plate beam bridge. The whole bridge was simulated with solid finite element to analyse corresponding stresses and displacements. The numerical results show that the longitudinal cracking along the joints in the fabricated concrete hollow plate girder bridge is mainly caused by the excess of transverse tensile stresses in the concrete joints. It leads to a poor connection between the beams and makes the transverse stiffness of the bridge decrease greatly. Based on the above analysis results, two strengthening schemes that involve external transverse pre-stress steel wires are presented and the improvement in the bridge integrity and the lateral load distribution capacity is demonstrated. It is found that both strengthening schemes can effectively reduce the transverse tensile stresses in the joints and greatly improve the global behaviour of the bridge. It is also concluded that the scheme with pre-stress steel wires located 25 cm from the bottom of the beam is more effective in increasing the integrity of the bridge.