Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Different types of live loading due to traffic may act on bridges. The focus of this study is on normal traffic loading according to the South African specification of TMH7. Heavy vehicles are not included in normal traffic loading. TMH7 represents the code of practice for the design of highway bridges and culverts in South Africa. The aim of the study is to provide an insight into the flexural analysis of skew bridges, under the effects of normal traffic loading. The need for the study arose since the specification of TMH7 does not explicitly specify application patterns for normal traffic loading. Only the intensity of normal traffic loading is specified and it should be applied to yield the most adverse effects. For these reasons, a set of so-called standard application patterns are investigated and developed through the course of this study. The envelope of the values from the standard application patterns are compared to the most adverse application pattern for flexural effects in certain design regions of the bridge deck. Flexure, as in the context of this study, translates into the bending and twisting of the bridge deck under loads. A number of numerical experiments are performed for typical single span and multi-span continuous carriageways, where the standard application patterns are compared to the most adverse application patterns. The results from the numerical experiments are documented and compared as the angle of skew of the bridge deck increases in plan-view. For this purpose, the development of effective and specialized software was necessary. It was found that the set of standard application patterns can be used as a preliminary approximation for the most adverse effects of normal traffic loading, for specific flexural resultants in certain design regions of a bridge deck. However, for a large number of secondary flexural effects, the set of standard application patterns did not represent a good approximation for the most adverse values. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verskillende tipes lewendige belasting, as gevolg van verkeer, kan op brûe inwerk. Die fokus van die studie is op normale verkeers-belasting volgens die Suid-Afrikaanse spesifikasie van TMH7. Swaar-voertuie word nie ingesluit by normale verkeers-belasting nie. TMH7 verteenwoordig die kode vir die ontwerp van padbrûe en duikers in Suid-Afrika. Die doel van die studie is om insig te verskaf in die buig-analise van skewe brûe, as gevolg van die werking van normale verkeers-belasting. Die rede vir hierdie studie ontstaan aangesien die spesifikasie van TMH7 nie eksplisiet aanwendingspatrone vir normale verkeers-belasting voorskryf nie. Slegs die intensiteit van normale verkeersbelasting word voorgeskryf en dit moet aangewend word om die negatiefste effekte te verkry. Vir hierdie redes word 'n versameling van sogenaamde standaard aanwendings-patrone deur die loop van die studie ondersoek en ontwikkel. Die omhullings-kurwe van die waardes wat deur die standaard patrone gelewer word, word vergelyk met die waarde van die aanwendings-patroon wat die negatiefste buig-effek in sekere ontwerp-areas van die brugdek veroorsaak. Buig-effekte, soos van toepassing op hierdie studie, verwys na buig en wring van die brugdek as gevolg van belastings. 'n Aantal numeriese eksperimente, vir enkel-span sowel as multi-span deurlopende brugdekke, word uitgevoer en die standaard aanwendings-patrone word vergelyk met die aanwendings-patrone wat die negatiefste waardes lewer. Die resultate van die numeriese eksperimente word gedokumenteer en vergelyk soos die hoek van skeefheid van die brugdek in plan-aansig toeneem. Vir hierdie doel is die ontwikkeling van effektiewe en gespesialiseerde sagteware dus nodig. Daar is gevind dat die standaard aanwendings-patrone, vir spesifieke buig-resultante in sekere ontwerp-areas van die brugdek, as 'n voorlopige benadering vir die negatiefste effekte van normale verkeers-belasting gebruik kan word. Dit was egter verder gevind dat vir 'n groot aantal sekondêre buig-effkte, die versameling standaard aanwendings-patrone nie as 'n goeie benadering vir die negatiefste waardes dien nie.

Abstract not available

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) seismic bridge design process for an Ordinary Bridge described in the Seismic Design Criteria (SDC) directs the design engineer to meet minimum requirements resulting in the design of a bridge that should remain standing in the event of a Design Seismic Hazard. A bridge can be designed to sustain significant damage; however it should avoid the collapse limit state, where the bridge is unable to resist loads due to self-weight. Seismic hazards, in the form of a design spectrum or ground motion time histories, are used to determine the demands of the bridge components and bridge system. These demands are compared to the capacity of the components to ensure that the bridge meets key performance criteria. The SDC also specifies design detailing of various components, including abutments, foundations, hinge seats and bent caps. The expectation of following the guidelines set forth by the SDC during the design process is that the resulting bridge design will avoid collapse under anticipated seismic loads. While the code provisions provide different analyses to follow and component detailing to adhere to in order to ensure a proper bridge design, the SDC does not provide a way to quantitatively determine whether the bridge design has met the requirement of no-collapse. The objectives of this research are to introduce probabilistic fragility analysis into the Caltrans design process and address the gap of information in the current design process, namely the determination of whether the bridge design meets the performance criteria of no-collapse at the design hazard level. The motivation for this project is to improve the designer's understanding of the probabilistic performance of their bridge design as a function of important design details. To accomplish these goals, a new bridge fragility method is presented as well as a design support tool that provides design engineers with instant access to fragility information during the design process. These products were developed for one specific bridge type that is common in California, the two-span concrete box girder bridge. The end product, the design support tool, is a bridge-specific fragility generator that provides probabilistic performance information on the bridge design. With this tool, a designer can check the bridge design, after going through the SDC design process, to determine the performance of the bridge and its components at any hazard level. The design support tool can provide the user with the probability of failure or collapse for the specific bridge design, which will give insight to the user about whether the bridge design has achieved the performance objective set out in the SDC. The designer would also be able to determine the effect of a change in various design details on the performance and therefore make more informed design decisions.

This research investigates the strength behavior of horizontally curved composite I-girder bridge structural systems, and the representation of this behavior by the AASHTO (2004b) LRFD provisions. The primary focus is on the design of a representative curved composite I-girder bridge tested at the FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, interpretation of the results from the testing of this bridge, including correlation with extensive linear and nonlinear finite element analysis solutions, and parametric extension of the test results using finite element models similar to those validated against the physical tests. These studies support the potential liberalization of the AASHTO (2004b) provisions by the use of a plastic moment based resistance, reduced by flange lateral bending effects, for composite I-girders in positive bending.

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a new class of concrete characterized by no coarse aggregate, steel fiber reinforcement, low w/c, low permeability, compressive strength exceeding 29,000 psi (200 MPa), tensile strength ranging from 1,200 to 2,500 psi (8 to 17 MPa), and very high toughness. These properties make prestressed precast UHPC bridge girders a very attractive replacement material for steel bridge girders, particularly when site demands require a comparable beam depth to steel and a 100+ year life span is desired. In order to efficiently utilize UHPC in bridge construction, it is necessary to create new design recommendations for its use. The interface between precast UHPC girder and cast-in-place concrete decks must be characterized in order to safely use composite design methods with this new material. Due to the lack of reinforcing bars, all shear forces in UHPC girders have to be carried by the concrete and steel fibers. Current U.S. codes do not consider fiber reinforcement in calculating shear capacity. Fiber contribution must be accurately accounted for in shear equations in order to use UHPC. Casting of UHPC may cause fibers to orient in the direction of casting. If fibers are preferentially oriented, physical properties of the concrete may also become anisotropic, which must be considered in design. The current research provides new understanding of shear and shear friction phenomena in UHPC including: *Current AASHTO codes provide a non-conservative estimate of interface shear performance of smooth UHPC interfaces with and without interface steel. *Fluted interfaces can be created by impressing formliners into the surface of plastic UHPC. AASHTO and ACI codes for roughened interfaces are conservative for design of fluted UHPC interfaces. *A new equation for the calculation of shear capacity of UHPC girders is presented which takes into account the contribution of steel fiber reinforcement. *Fibers are shown to preferentially align in the direction of casting, which significantly affects compressive behavior of the UHPC.

The construction of curved I-girder bridges generally requires detailed attention to the steel erection plan as well as the deck placement sequence. There is limited quantitative information available on the performance of large curved bridges under construction. This study seeks to address this limitation through the study of a curved ramp I-girder bridge. The bridge under study is the last of several bridges needed to complete the interchange between I-40 and Briley Parkway (TN SR155) in western Nashville, TN. The study consists of three parts. First, the bridge was instrumented and its behavior during construction was monitored using vibrating wire strain gages, clinometers, and a robotic total station. Through these technologies it was possible to monitor changes in strain/stress, angle of rotation, and deflections throughout the girder erection, installation of concrete formwork, and concrete placement. Second, a static load test of the completed bridge was conducted using ten trucks loaded to a total weight of 72 kips each, during which measurements of the stress/strain and deflections were acquired. Finally, the collected data was compared to analytical results obtained from a 3D finite element analysis (FEA) model to assess the correlation between measurements and refined analytical predictions. The refined 3D FEA predictions are used as a baseline for evaluation of various simplified analysis methods in a parallel National Cooperative Highway Research Program project, NCHRP 12-79, Guidelines for Analytical Methods and Construction Engineering of Curved and Skewed Steel Girder Bridges. Overall, the comparisons show that the 3D FEA model provides a reasonable approximation of the bridge's behavior in terms of both stresses and deflections.

A busca por estruturas mais esbeltas, economicamente viáveis e esteticamente atraentes impulsionou a evolução e inovação no ramo de pontes. A protensão, tanto interna quanto externa, tem sido usada em larga escala e devido à sua eficiência, diversas técnicas foram desenvolvidas e utilizadas, como os estais. A ponte extradorso é uma estrutura que mantém características das pontes de viga reta construídas por balanços sucessivos, assim como de pontes estaiadas. A ponte com protensão no extradorso é uma estrutura recente e inovadora, que ainda é pouco utilizada no Brasil. O conceito desenvolvido em 1988 foi construído pela primeira vez em 1994 no Japão. Por serem estruturas com extensos vãos e que podem sofrer vibração excessiva, quando submetidas a carregamentos dinâmicos de grande intensidade, como os carregamentos móveis, é importante analisar o comportamento destas. A dinâmica das estruturas engloba a determinação das frequências naturais e dos modos de vibração naturais da estrutura, assim como os possíveis deslocamentos, esforços internos, velocidade e acelerações. Os modelos computacionais, usando o princípio do método dos elementos finitos, quando devidamente utilizados, podem representar valores muito próximos à realidade da estrutura em serviço. Este trabalho tem a intenção de analisar o comportamento dinâmico da ponte situada na TO-010, entre Miracema e Lajeado, inaugurada em 2011, quando submetida a diferentes carregamentos móveis e com diferentes velocidades, comparando-os com a análise estática. / Searching for more slender structures, economically viable and aesthetically appealing drove and innovation in the bridges. Prestressing, both internal and external, has been used on a large scale due to its efficiency; several techniques have been developed and used, as the stays. The extradosed bridge is a structure that retains characteristics of straight girder bridges built by successive balances, as well as cable-stayed bridge. Prestressing extradosed is an innovative new structure, which is not widely used in Brazil. The concept developed in 1988 was first constructed in 1994 in Japan. Because they are structures with long spans and can suffer excessive vibration when subjected to dynamic loading of high intensity such as live loads, it is important to analyze their behavior. The dynamic of structures includes determining the frequency and mode of natural vibration of the structure, as well as the possible displacements and internal forces. Computer models, using the principle of the finite element method, when properly calibrated, can represent values close to the reality of the structure in service. This paper intends to analyze the dynamic behavior of the bridge located in the TO-010, between Miracema and Lajeado, inaugurated in 2011, when subjected to different moving load, and moving at different speed, comparing them with the static analysis. / 5000

O presente trabalho apresenta uma comparação entre resultados da análise estrutural da superestrutura de um viaduto em seção celular obtidos do estudo por métodos teóricos e pelo método dos elementos finitos com uso de software adequado, visando a validação dos métodos empregados para obras em seção celular, observando os critérios de tempo, custo e resultados satisfatórios. Foram analisados os coeficientes de distribuição transversal dos esforços na superestrutura de um viaduto quando da ampliação da obra com uso de seção caixão de dimensões diferentes da original e sem haver simetria, visto a ampliação apenas para um lado da obra. Tal determinação apresenta grande importância, visto que o conhecimento das distribuições transversais entre as longarinas que compõem a obra permite a elaboração de projetos de alargamento de pontes mais precisos, buscando a melhor aproximação entre os modelos numéricos e o comportamento real da estrutura. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os modelos tridimensionais são aqueles que mais se aproximam da condição real da estrutura, porém com alto nível de complexidade para desenvolvimento e uma demanda de tempo elevada. Os modelos de grelha e o modelo baseado na teoria de Fauchart apresentaram resultados divergentes dos modelos tridimensionais, se mostrando conservadores e com respostas imprecisas, não sendo indicados para análise de estruturas em seção caixão. Já o Método de Mason apresentou bons resultados, com valores próximos aos modelos tridimensionais, porém com um prazo mais reduzido de desenvolvimento e obtenção de resultados, caracterizando um método eficiente para estudos de ampliações de obras de arte com seção caixão, quando da análise dos critérios de custo, tempo e resultados. / The present work shows a comparison between results of the structural analysis of a cellular box cross section viaduct superstructure, the results are obtained with analytic simplified methods and with the finite element method using a suitable software, aiming the validation of the methods used for constructions in cellular box cross section, observing the criteria of time, cost and satisfactory results. The stress transversal distribution coefficients for the superstructure of a box cross section viaduct were analyzed for the expansion of the construction with the use of box cross section with different dimensions from the original one and with no symmetry, regarding the expansion only for one side of the construction. Such determination presents a huge importance, once the knowledge of the transversal distributions among the stringer beams that comprise the construction allows the elaboration of more accurate bridge widening designs, searching for the best approximation between the numerical models and the real behavior of the structure. The results showed that the three-dimensional models are those that are closer to the real condition of the structure, but with high level of complexity for development and a high demand of time. The grid model and the model based on the Fauchart’s theory show different results of the three-dimensional models, proving to be conservative and with inaccurate answers, not being indicated for the analysis of box cross section structures. On the other hand, the Mason’s Method showed good results, with values close to the ones of the three-dimensional models, however with a shorter time of development and delivery of results, featuring an efficient method for box cross section artworks widening studies, when analyzing the criteria of cost, time and results.

A busca por estruturas mais esbeltas, economicamente viáveis e esteticamente atraentes impulsionou a evolução e inovação no ramo de pontes. A protensão, tanto interna quanto externa, tem sido usada em larga escala e devido à sua eficiência, diversas técnicas foram desenvolvidas e utilizadas, como os estais. A ponte extradorso é uma estrutura que mantém características das pontes de viga reta construídas por balanços sucessivos, assim como de pontes estaiadas. A ponte com protensão no extradorso é uma estrutura recente e inovadora, que ainda é pouco utilizada no Brasil. O conceito desenvolvido em 1988 foi construído pela primeira vez em 1994 no Japão. Por serem estruturas com extensos vãos e que podem sofrer vibração excessiva, quando submetidas a carregamentos dinâmicos de grande intensidade, como os carregamentos móveis, é importante analisar o comportamento destas. A dinâmica das estruturas engloba a determinação das frequências naturais e dos modos de vibração naturais da estrutura, assim como os possíveis deslocamentos, esforços internos, velocidade e acelerações. Os modelos computacionais, usando o princípio do método dos elementos finitos, quando devidamente utilizados, podem representar valores muito próximos à realidade da estrutura em serviço. Este trabalho tem a intenção de analisar o comportamento dinâmico da ponte situada na TO-010, entre Miracema e Lajeado, inaugurada em 2011, quando submetida a diferentes carregamentos móveis e com diferentes velocidades, comparando-os com a análise estática. / Searching for more slender structures, economically viable and aesthetically appealing drove and innovation in the bridges. Prestressing, both internal and external, has been used on a large scale due to its efficiency; several techniques have been developed and used, as the stays. The extradosed bridge is a structure that retains characteristics of straight girder bridges built by successive balances, as well as cable-stayed bridge. Prestressing extradosed is an innovative new structure, which is not widely used in Brazil. The concept developed in 1988 was first constructed in 1994 in Japan. Because they are structures with long spans and can suffer excessive vibration when subjected to dynamic loading of high intensity such as live loads, it is important to analyze their behavior. The dynamic of structures includes determining the frequency and mode of natural vibration of the structure, as well as the possible displacements and internal forces. Computer models, using the principle of the finite element method, when properly calibrated, can represent values close to the reality of the structure in service. This paper intends to analyze the dynamic behavior of the bridge located in the TO-010, between Miracema and Lajeado, inaugurated in 2011, when subjected to different moving load, and moving at different speed, comparing them with the static analysis. / 5000

O presente trabalho apresenta uma comparação entre resultados da análise estrutural da superestrutura de um viaduto em seção celular obtidos do estudo por métodos teóricos e pelo método dos elementos finitos com uso de software adequado, visando a validação dos métodos empregados para obras em seção celular, observando os critérios de tempo, custo e resultados satisfatórios. Foram analisados os coeficientes de distribuição transversal dos esforços na superestrutura de um viaduto quando da ampliação da obra com uso de seção caixão de dimensões diferentes da original e sem haver simetria, visto a ampliação apenas para um lado da obra. Tal determinação apresenta grande importância, visto que o conhecimento das distribuições transversais entre as longarinas que compõem a obra permite a elaboração de projetos de alargamento de pontes mais precisos, buscando a melhor aproximação entre os modelos numéricos e o comportamento real da estrutura. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os modelos tridimensionais são aqueles que mais se aproximam da condição real da estrutura, porém com alto nível de complexidade para desenvolvimento e uma demanda de tempo elevada. Os modelos de grelha e o modelo baseado na teoria de Fauchart apresentaram resultados divergentes dos modelos tridimensionais, se mostrando conservadores e com respostas imprecisas, não sendo indicados para análise de estruturas em seção caixão. Já o Método de Mason apresentou bons resultados, com valores próximos aos modelos tridimensionais, porém com um prazo mais reduzido de desenvolvimento e obtenção de resultados, caracterizando um método eficiente para estudos de ampliações de obras de arte com seção caixão, quando da análise dos critérios de custo, tempo e resultados. / The present work shows a comparison between results of the structural analysis of a cellular box cross section viaduct superstructure, the results are obtained with analytic simplified methods and with the finite element method using a suitable software, aiming the validation of the methods used for constructions in cellular box cross section, observing the criteria of time, cost and satisfactory results. The stress transversal distribution coefficients for the superstructure of a box cross section viaduct were analyzed for the expansion of the construction with the use of box cross section with different dimensions from the original one and with no symmetry, regarding the expansion only for one side of the construction. Such determination presents a huge importance, once the knowledge of the transversal distributions among the stringer beams that comprise the construction allows the elaboration of more accurate bridge widening designs, searching for the best approximation between the numerical models and the real behavior of the structure. The results showed that the three-dimensional models are those that are closer to the real condition of the structure, but with high level of complexity for development and a high demand of time. The grid model and the model based on the Fauchart’s theory show different results of the three-dimensional models, proving to be conservative and with inaccurate answers, not being indicated for the analysis of box cross section structures. On the other hand, the Mason’s Method showed good results, with values close to the ones of the three-dimensional models, however with a shorter time of development and delivery of results, featuring an efficient method for box cross section artworks widening studies, when analyzing the criteria of cost, time and results.