Load Transfer Mechanism of Steel Girder-Rc Pier Connection in Composite Rigid-Frame Bridge

Abstract

The composite rigid-frame bridge, where the steel girder and the reinforced concrete (RC) pier are rigidly connected, has a high bearing capacity and superior long-term performance. The steel girder-RC pier connection is the critical detail for the design of such a structural form. To this end, a detailed review of composite rigid-frame bridges in China and abroad was carried out to summarize various forms of connections and evaluate their applicability. A novel connection type was then proposed to improve the connective performance between steel plate girders and RC piers. Threedimensional finite element models were further developed to investigate the force transfer mechanism, accounting for the impact of concrete stress, shear force in the connectors, and stress of steel plates. The results indicated that the proposed connection was capable of transmitting external loads reliably, and its ultimate bearing capacity exceeded design loads. The shear force of perfobond connectors, the tension of reinforcement, and the bearing effect of the bottom flange provided the major force transmission path to resist the external load.