Box-Girder Bridges - Modelling and Analysis

Abstract

The box-girder bridge has become very popular lately due to its serviceability, stability, and structural efficiency. The study of such a bridge requires analytical, experimental, or numerical methods. The structural behavior of the box-girder bridge is very complex and is quite cumbersome to be investigated by conventional methods. This paper presents a modelling process for the analysis of simply supported reinforced concrete (RC) box-girder bridges (straight, skew, curve, and skew-curved) using the finite element method under Indian loading conditions. This modelling process is developed on the basis of the Codal provisions of Indian Road Congress (IRC) 6:2017 and IRC 21:2000, and its implementation is quite simple as it avoids the cumbersome calculations and requires less time. Different values of the span, span-depth ratio, and the number of cells are considered to suit the requirements, and limiting criteria for stresses and deflection are checked. The static and free vibration analyses are carried out, and the results are compared to control the applicability of the proposed modelling process. The present modelling process is applied to analyse the RC box-girder bridges up to 50 m spans, and no erection procedure is included. However, one may follow the proposed modelling procedure for any box-girder bridge for its analysis.

Static and free vibration response of a box-girder bridge using the finite element technique

“…Numerical analyses include modal analysis; static analysis under gravity load, prestressing load lane live load; and whole-process analysis taking into account the building technique and long-term behavior of concrete. Preeti et al (2022) showed the design forces of simply supported single-cell reinforced concrete (RC) curved box-girder bridges using CSiBridge v.20 software based on the finite element method (FEM). N on-dimensional equations are made for figuring out forces and deviations so that results for straight bridges can be used to figure out the same things for curved bridges.…”

“…Also, the analysis indicated that the reduction in bearing load capacity with increasing beam curvature is the same no matter what the b/d ratio is. Preeti et al (2022) used CSiBridge software to simulate and analyze a single-cell and double-cell rectangle-shaped box-girder bridge under the influence of varied IRC loadings. Stress and deflection limits were examined for various span-depth ratios.…”