Optimization of Bolted Connection in Steel Corbel Attach to RC Column of MRT Viaduct

Abstract

MRT is one of the backbones of a city’s public transportation system, capable of carrying large crowds. The use of a portal frame in the design of an MRT train station has raised significant concerns about how the portal frame’s load will be supported by the extended structure element known as a corbel. A corbel is a protruding structural element that supports weights like primary beams and girders. Engineers must then decide how to properly bolt the steel corbel structure to the concrete pier segment or columns. Generally, most corbel structure designs were constructed of concrete; however, in this study corbel design was made of steel so that the steel portal frame could rest on the corbel structure, allowing for more usable area on the platform, such as kiosks and other amenities. Optimization of end plate thickness and beam web thickness is carried out. Manual calculations are used in addition to FEA modeling to examine the bolt’s deflection, shear, bearing, tension, slip, and block tearing resistance. When using Eurocode, all three loadings, transverse force, vertical force, and transverse moment, produce values that are 10% lower than the British Standard. As a result, designers can optimize their designs using Eurocode.