Lateral bracing systems consisting of cross frames and their connections play a significant role in the elastic buckling strength of steel girder bridges. By providing lateral and torsional stability, they prevent lateral torsional buckling of the girder during bridge construction prior to the concrete bridge deck curing. To perform this function, the bracing system must possess adequate strength and stiffness. And since each component of the bracing system acts in series, the overall stiffness of the system is less than the least stiff component. In skewed bridges, cross frames at the ends of the girders are installed parallel to the bridge skew angle, and their connection to the girder requires that the cross frames be at an angle that prohibits welding a stiffener from the cross frame directly to the girder web. To make this connection, many states use a bent plate to span the angle between the web stiffener and cross frame. While this bent plate connection is now being widely used, it has never been rationally designed to account for its strength or stiffness in the bracing system. Results from field studies show that the bent plate connection may be limiting the cross frame stiffness thereby hampering its ability to provide stability to the girder during construction. The result is significant girder end rotations. The purpose of this research is to classify the impact of the bent plate connection on the end cross frame stiffness in skewed straight steel girder bridges and propose methods to improve the end cross frame’s structural efficiency. This research uses laboratory testing, finite element modeling, and parametric studies to recommend design guidance and construction practices related to the end cross frames of skewed steel girder bridges. In addition to recommending methods to stiffen the existing bent plate connection, an alternative pipe stiffener connection is evaluated. The pipe stiffener not only offers the possibility of a stiffer connection, but can also provide warping restraint to the end of the girder which may significantly increase the girder elastic buckling capacity. / text

The scheduled replacement of the 8th North Bridge, in Salt Lake City, UT, presented a unique opportunity to test a pre-cast concrete deck, steel girder bridge. A live-load test was performed under the directions of Bridge Diagnostic Inc (BDI) and Utah State University. Six different load paths were chosen to be tested. The recorded data was used to calibrate a finite-element model of this superstructure, which was created using solid, shell, and frame elements. A comparison between the measured and finite-element response was performed and it was determined that the finite-element model replicated the measured results within 3.5% of the actual values. This model was later used to obtain theoretical live-load distribution factors, which were compared with the AASHTO LRFD Specifications estimations. The analysis was performed for the actual condition of the bridge and the original case of the bridge, which included sidewalks on both sides. The comparison showed that the code over predicted the behavior of the actual structure by 10%. For the original case, the code's estimation differed by as much as 45% of the theoretical values. Another opportunity was presented to test the behavior of a cast-in-place concrete box girder bridge in Joaquin County, CA. The Walnut Grove Bridge was tested by BDI at the request of Utah State University. The test was performed with six different load paths and the recorded data was used to calibrate a finite-element model of the structure. The bridge was modeled using shell elements and the supports were modeled using solid elements. The model was shown to replicate the actual behavior of the bridge to within 3% of the measured values. The calibrated model was then used to calculate the theoretical live-load distribution factors, which allowed a comparison of the results with the AASHTOO LRFD Specifications equations. This analysis was performed for the real conditions of the bridge and a second case where intermediate diaphragms were not included. It was determined that the code's equations estimated the behavior of the interior girder more accurately for the second model (within 10%) than the real model of the bridge (within 20%).

The majority of the bridges in the United States are already reaching the years that the design process took into account when determining the time the structure would be functional. This means that many of the bridges in the nation are in need of increasing maintenance, and in some cases, major retrofitting. Researchers at Utah State University in conjunction with the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) Program, under the direction of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Office of Infrastructure Research and Development, directed dynamic testing on the New Jersey Pilot Bridge, structure number 1618-150. The purpose of the LTBP Program is to monitor the nation’s highway bridges for a 20-year period to analyze and understand the behavior over time of the selected bridges and then promote the safety, mobility, longevity, and reliability on those bridges. In order to perform the monitoring of the bridge, ambient vibration analysis was selected for this structure, which was instrumented with an array of velocity transducers to record the response coming from the excitation. A finite element model was also created to compare the results from the ambient vibration testing. The results of this testing will be used with the LTBP Program to improve the knowledge of the bridge performance and foster the next generation of bridges and bridge management in the nation.

Cross frames are critical components in steel bridge systems. Cross frames brace girders against lateral torsional buckling and assist in distributing live loads to girders during the service life of the bridge. In curved bridges, cross frames also serve as primary structural members in resisting torsion generated by the traffic loads. The conventional cross frames are often constructed in X- or K- type shapes with steel angle sections. However, the actual stiffness of these cross frames are not well understood or quantified, leading to potentially inaccurate prediction of bridge behavior and safety during construction and in service. Previous studies have shown the possibility of employing new sections, such as tubular members and double angles, in cross frame designs. In addition, a type-Z cross frame, or single diagonal cross frame was also found to be a potential use to simplify the design. However, the effectiveness of these innovative cross frame types has not been completely examined. And these new cross frames have yet compared with the conventional ones in terms of their stiffness and strength capacity. This dissertation documents the results of a study on the stiffness of various types of cross frame systems. Full size cross frames were tested to establish actual stiffness of the cross frames specimens. The tests results revealed a significant discrepancy between the actual measured stiffness and the stiffness calculated using methods commonly employed by bridge designers. The research showed that the major source of this discrepancy was eccentricity in the connection. The stiffness reduction was quantified by employing analytical derivation and finite element modeling. As a result, methods were developed to account for the stiffness reduction. / text

The continuous permanent metal deck form system provides a quick and efficient method of constructing short-span, simply supported composite steel girder bridges. However, because shear studs can only be welded to the girder through the steel deck at rib locations, the number of shear stud locations is limited to the number of ribs in the shear span while the spacing of the shear studs is restricted to the rib spacing of the steel deck. This results in a condition where various provisions of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (2007) cannot be satisfied, including shear stud fatigue spacing requirements and the fully composite section requirements. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether continuous permanent metal deck form construction method can be used for bridges given the code departures. Using this method, a full scale test specimen was constructed with one half of the specimen using one stud per rib and the other half using two studs per rib and then each half was tested separately. The steel deck used in the specimen was supplied by Wheeling Corrugating. Fatigue testing was conducted to determine the fatigue resistance of the specimen at both levels of interaction, with load ranges calculated using the AASHTO LRFD shear stud fatigue equation. This was followed by static tests to failure to determine the plastic moment capacity at both levels of interaction. Results of the testing were compared to existing design models and modifications specific to this construction method are made. Investigations into whether the profiled steel deck can act as full lateral bracing to the steel girder compression flange during deck placement were also made. Fatigue testing results showed that very little stiffness was lost over the course of testing at both levels of composite interaction. This leads to the conclusion that the AASHTO shear stud equation used for this design is conservative. Static testing results indicated that the measured values for the plastic moment capacity of the specimen were less than the calculated capacity. This leads to the conclusion that the individual shear stud strengths were overestimated using current design equations. Recommendations for modifications to the existing design equations are provided. / Master of Science

[ES] El diseño de puentes, a diferencia de lo que ocurre con el diseño de edificios o con el diseño de túneles ha dejado de lado la consideración de la acción del fuego hasta la fecha. Este vacío normativo, combinado con la gran repercusión económica y social de colapsos de puentes en el pasado como consecuencia de incendios, ha motivado un rápido incremento del número de estudios relativos a la ingeniería frente al fuego en el ámbito de los puentes. Aunque la acción del fuego no resulta del todo desconocida en el ámbito de las estructuras, sí que existen una serie de singularidades que impiden la trasposición directa de recomendaciones o de modelos de fuego simplificados ya desarrollados en otros campos que ya incorporan la acción del fuego en el diseño. En este contexto, el trabajo que a continuación se expone parte de un incendio ocurrido en el estado de Alabama en 2002, cuyas consecuencias fueron la demolición de un puente mixto de 37 metros de vano central, para plantear y validar una metodología que aborda el problema de forma numérica mediante tres modelos acoplados secuencialmente: modelo de incendios, modelo térmico y modelo mecánico Realizada una validación a nivel general se descubre que, aunque la configuración geométrica final obtenida se ajustan bastante a la realidad, la definición del incendio ha supuesto un gran número de hipótesis. Es por ello que se decide, en una segunda parte, realizar una campaña experimental que permita registrar la potencia del fuego, las temperaturas del gas y del acero y las flechas en un puente construido ad-hoc en el campus de la Universitat Politècnica de València. Este puente experimental tenía un vano único de 6 m de luz y fue sometido a cargas de fuego de hasta 1.3 MW. Mediante el empleo de los registros realizados en la campaña experimental se ha validado el modelo de incendio, el modelo térmico y el modelo mecánico. Con todo ello se ha puesto en evidencia la importancia del viento en la acción del fuego, la magnitud de los gradientes térmicos espaciales y la urgencia de desarrollar procedimientos simplificados que permitan la incorporación del fuego como acción en el ámbito de los puentes Las validaciones específicas de cada modelo han permitido además llegar a una serie de conclusiones de gran interés para la realización de futuras campañas experimentales en puentes a mayor escala. / [CAT] El disseny de ponts, a diferència del que passa amb el disseny d'edificis o amb el disseny de túnels ha deixat de banda la consideració de l'acció del foc. Aquest buit normatiu, combinat amb la gran repercussió econòmica i social de col·lapses de ponts com a conseqüència d'incendis, ha motivat un ràpid increment del nombre d'estudis relatius a l'enginyeria del foc del foc en l'àmbit dels ponts. Encara que l'acció del foc no resulta del tot desconeguda en l'àmbit de les estructures, sí que hi ha una sèrie de singularitats que impedeixen la transposició directa de recomanacions o de models de foc simplificats ja desenvolupats en altres camps que ja incorporen l'acció del foc al disseny. En aquest context, el treball que a continuació s'exposa part d'un incendi ocorregut a l'estat d'Alabama en 2002 i que va provocar la demolició d'un pont mixt de 37 metres de va, per plantejar i validar una metodologia que aborda el problema de forma numèrica mitjançant tres models acoplats seqüencialment: model d'incendis, model tèrmic i model mecànic Realitzada una validació a nivell general es descobreix que, encara que la configuració geomètrica final obtinguda s'ajusta en gran mesura a la realitat, la definició de l'incendi ha suposat un gran nombre d'hipòtesis. És per això que es decideix, en una segona part, realitzar una campanya experimental que permeta registrar la potència del foc, les temperatures del gas i de l'acer i les fletxes en un pont construït ad hoc al campus de la Universitat Politècnica de València. Aquest pont experimental presenta un va únic de 6 m de llum i va ser sotmès a càrregues de foc de fins a 1.3 MW. Mitjançant l'ús dels registres realitzats a la campanya experimental s'ha validat el model d'incendi, el model tèrmic i el model mecànic. Amb tot això s'ha posat en evidència la importància del vent en l'acció del foc, la magnitud dels gradients tèrmics espacials i la urgència de desenvolupar procediments simplificats que permetin la incorporació del foc com a acció en l'àmbit dels ponts Les validacions específiques de cada model han permès a més arribar a una sèrie de conclusions de gran interès per a la realització de futures campanyes experimentals en ponts a major escala. / [EN] To date, the fire action has been left aside in the bridge design despite this action has been widely considered in other structures such as building and tunnels. This regulatory vacuum, combined with the great economic and social impact of bridge collapses in recent times as a result of fires, has led to a rapid increase in the number of studies related to fire engineering in the field of bridges. Although the action of fire is not entirely unknown in the field of structures, there are a number of singularities that prevent the direct transposition of recommendations or simplified fire models from such fields. In this context, the study started by using a real fire which occurred in the state of Alabama in 2002 and led to the demolition of the 37-meter main span of a composite concrete and steel bridge to introduce and validate a methodology that numerically addresses the problem by uncoupling the problem in three different models: fire model, thermal model and mechanical model. Once the validation was accomplished at a general level, it was discovered that, although the geometrical data were quite adjusted to reality, the definition of the fire had involved a large number of hypotheses. That is why carrying out an experimental campaign to record the power of the fire, the gas and steel temperatures and the vertical deflections of a bridge built ad-hoc on the campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València became a priority. This 6-meter single span experimental bridge was subjected to fire loads of up to 1.3 MW. Through the use of the information recorded during the experimental campaign, the fire model, the thermal model and the mechanical model were validated. Moreover, the importance of wind in the action of fire, the magnitude of spatial thermal gradients and the urgency of developing simplified procedures which allow the consideration of fire as an action in the field of bridges were also highlighted. Last but not least, the validation of the different models allowed the author to include useful guidelines in order to define future experimental campaigns with more powerful fires and longer span bridges. / Alós Moya, J. (2018). Análisis de la respuesta frente al fuego de puentes mixtos multijácena [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/116625 / TESIS