A multi-level strategy for successively improved structural analysis of existing concrete bridges: examination using a prestressed concrete bridge tested to failure

This paper describes a multi-level strategy with increased complexity through four levels of structural analysis of concrete bridges. The concept was developed to provide a procedure that supports enhanced assessments with better understanding of the structure and more precise predictions of the load-carrying capacity. In order to demonstrate and examine the multi-level strategy, a continuous multi-span prestressed concrete girder bridge, tested until shear failure, was investigated. Calculations of the load-carrying capacity at the initial level of the multi-level strategy consistently resulted in underestimated capacities, with the predicted load ranging from 25% to 78% of the tested failure load, depending on the local resistance model applied. The initial assessment was also associated with issues of localising the shear failure accurately and, consequently, refined structural analysis at an enhanced level was recommended. Enhanced assessment using nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis precisely reproduced the behaviour observed in the experimental test, capturing the actual failure mechanism and the load-carrying capacity with less than 4% deviation to the test. Thus, the enhanced level of assessment, using the proposed multi-level strategy, can be considered to be accurate, but the study also shows the importance of using guidelines for nonlinear FE analysis and bridge-specific information.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2018.1476562
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/15732479
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Abstract republished with permission of Taylor & Francis.
• Authors:
  • Bagge, Niklas
  • Plos, Mario
  • Popescu, Cosmin
• Publication Date: 2019-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 27-53
• Serial:
  • Structure and Infrastructure Engineering
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis
  • ISSN: 1573-2479
  • EISSN: 1744-8980
  • Serial URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/nsie20

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearing capacity; Failure; Finite element method; Girder bridges; Prestressed concrete bridges; Shear strength; Structural analysis
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01691639
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 28 2019 5:07PM