FINITE ELEMENT MODELING, ANALYSIS, AND DESIGN OF HIGHLY SKEWED POST-TENSIONED CONCRETE BRIDGES

Skewed bridges have been designed for many years using approximate methods. Most of these methods do not account for the high torsional moments inherent in a skewed structure. More exact methods of analysis are time consuming and the stringent budgets do not permit the design consultant the luxury of using these more elaborate and exact methods. Recently, several highly skewed post-tensioned box girder bridges have been studied and designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. (PBQ&D) in Tempe, Arizona. The high skew angle of these highway and railroad bridges with very heavy Live Loads was caused by the restricted right-of-way limitations and necessitated the use of more exact methods and/or dependable methods of analysis for these structures. Five skewed bridges were analyzed, by conventional plane frame analysis and by two different programs, using a finite element method of analysis. Two of these bridges were compared to verify the designs based on three dimensional grid analysis. In the preliminary stage the structures were sized and preliminary forces obtained by using Caltrans "Frame System" and then the finite element models were generated in order to gain a better understanding of the effect of skew bending on the deformations, stresses, support reactions, and torsional moments. Traditionally skewed bridges were analyzed and designed considering the longest length between the supports as the actual span length. Conventional wisdom assumed that such a conservative approach would result in a very safe design. The means or the methods to do a more precise analysis and design did not exist. The advent of computers and the implementation of finite element methods of analysis have given the means to take a closer look at the behavior of the skewed bridges.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1991/1290vol1/1290-016.pdf
• Record URL:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1290, Third Bridge Engineering Conference, March 10-13, 1991, Denver, Colorado, Volume 1. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Ramaiah, Seetha V
  • Seyedmadani, N Ali
  • Oliden, Oscar A
• Conference:
  • Bridge Engineering Conference, 3rd, 1991, Denver, Colorado, USA
  • Location: Denver Colorado, United States
  • Date: 1991-93-10 to 1991-3-13
• Publication Date: 1991

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 144-151
• Monograph Title: Third Bridge Engineering Conference: Papers Presented at the Third Bridge Engineering Conference, March 10-13, 1991, Denver, Colorado
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1290
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Box girders; Bridge design; Bridges; Concrete; Finite element method; Highway bridges; Mathematical models; Posttensioning; Railroad bridges; Skew bridges; Structural design
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete box girders
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00611129
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309050677
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jul 31 1991 12:00AM