Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-229). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-229). Also available on the Internet.

O presente trabalho faz uma comparação entre resultados obtidos por um método prático e simplificado e o Método dos Elementos Finitos na determinação de esforços solicitantes em pontes celulares curvas em planta, submetidas à protensão. Na primeira parte, teórica, apresenta-se os conceitos fundamentais das vigas celulares curvas, mostrando-se principalmente as diferenças de seu comportamento em relação ao das vigas retas. Em seguida discute-se a protensão de peças de concreto com ênfase no seu efeito em vigas curvas. Finalmente, são apresentados os métodos a serem utilizados no cálculo, percorrendo as diversas situações de carregamento, mas sempre enfatizando o carregamento de protensão. Na segunda parte, prática, é elaborado um estudo comparativo, tomando-se como exemplo duas pontes rodoviárias em viga unicelular, sendo uma biapoiada e outra contínua, submetidas a protensão. Após a construção de modelos, tais vigas são processadas através de um programa comercial de elementos finitos. Alguns resultados são então comparados com aqueles obtidos através do método simplificado, elaborando-se assim observações práticas e que possam ser utilizadas nos projetos corriqueiros de engenharia. / This work compares the results from a practical and simplified method and the Finite Element Method to determinate section efforts in prestressed box-girder curved bridges. The first part, theoretical, introduces the basic principles of the cellular curved beams, showing the differences of its behavior comparing with straight beams. Next, prestressing of concrete members is discussed, emphasizing its effects in curved beams. Finally, calculation methods are presented, covering many loading situations, but always emphasizing the prestressing load. In the second part, practical, a comparative study is elaborated, taking two road unicellular bridges, one simply supported and another continuum, submitted to prestressing load. After models construction, such beams are calculated using a commercial software of Finite Element Method. Then, some results are compared with those calculated by simplified method, thus elaborating practical comments that can be used in the current designs of engineering.

Live load distribution factors are used to determine the live-load moment for bridge girder design when a two dimensional analysis is conducted. A simple, analysis of bridge superstructures are considered to determine live-load factors that can be used to analyze different types of bridges. The distribution of the live load factors distributes the effect of loads transversely across the width of the bridge superstructure by proportioning the design lanes to individual girders through the distribution factors. This research study consists of the determination of live load distribution factors (LLDFs) in both interior and exterior girders for horizontally curved concrete box girder bridges that have central angles, with one span exceeding 34 degrees. This study has been done based on real geometry of bridges designed by a company for different locations. The goal of using real geometry is to achieve more realistic, accurate, and practical results. Also, in this study, 3-D modeling analyses for different span lengths (80, 90, 100, 115, 120, and 140 ft) have been first conducted for straight bridges, and then the results compared with AASHTO LRFD, 2012 equations. The point of starting with straight bridges analyses is to get an indication and conception about the LLDF obtained from AASHTO LRFD formulas, 2012 to those obtained from finite element analyses for this type of bridge (Concrete Box Girder). After that, the analyses have been done for curved bridges having central angles with one span exceeding 34 degrees. Theses analyses conducted for various span lengths that had already been used for straight bridges (80, 90, 100, 115, 120, and 140 ft) with different central angles (5º, 38º, 45º, 50º, 55º, and 60º). The results of modeling and analyses for straight bridges indicate that the current AASHTO LRFD formulas for box-girder bridges provide a conservative estimate of the design bending moment. For curved bridges, it was observed from a refined analysis that the distribution factor increases as the central angle increases and the current AASHTO LRFD formula is applicable until a central angle of 38º which is a little out of the LRFD`s limits.

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Concrete highway bridges are important elements of our country's transportation infrastructure; however, only few studies that address their seismic behavior using data collected from instrumented structures are available in the literature. This gap of knowledge impairs full exploitation of structural health monitoring techniques for seismic damage assessment, and improvement of design recommendations. This research is particularly concerned with curved concrete box-girder highway bridges, whose seismic behavior is still widely unexplored due to lack of field monitoring data. By taking advantage of vibration records collected during six earthquake events at the West Street on Ramp, a curved concrete box-girder highway bridge located in Anaheim, California, this research aims at advancing knowledge about the seismic behavior of these bridges. Modal identification of the bridge during the earthquakes is conducted, and sensitivity analysis is carried out to reconcile the observed dynamic characteristics of the bridge with the behavior of its structural elements. Data collected from an instrumented large-scale bridge specimen during shaking table tests are also analyzed to gain insight about the response of the bridge bents during the earthquakes, and propose a strategy to model their seismic behavior. Information from modal identification and the shaking table tests analyses are instrumental in developing a nonlinear finite element model of the bridge, calibrated employing a multistage finite element model updating strategy. In order to evaluate the significance of using the structural-health-monitoring-informed structural model obtained, seismic performance assessment through incremental dynamic analysis is conducted, and results are compared with the predicted performance estimated with a conventional finite element model of the bridge. By advancing knowledge about the seismic behavior of concrete highway bridges, this research may ultimately contribute to improve structural health monitoring practices and design guidelines for this type of structures.