A Butterfly-Like Connection Proposed for Bridge Pier Composite Protective System against Vessel Collision: Experimental and Numerical Analyses

Abstract

Reliable connections are crucial for a bridge anti-collision protective system. Thus, this study proposes an innovative butterfly-like connection to tightly connect all segments of the pier composite protective system. The composite protective system is composed of four large segments, made of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) panels, GFRP lattice plates, GFRP octagonal honeycomb tubes, round steel tubes, and polyurethane (PU) foam cores. The segments are jointed as a whole protective system by using eight proposed butterfly-like connections. First, the quasi-static tensile test is carried out to study the tensile strength and failure mechanism of the proposed connection. Then, a numerical model of the connection is established to determine the optimization parameter, and the numerical results are verified by experimental data. The optimal structural parameters for the connection are determined by parameter analysis using numerical results. Finally, a case study of a cable-supported bridge under vessel collision is numerically analyzed to comprehensively evaluate the overall protective performance and the dynamic reliability of the connection. It was found that the dynamic performance of the proposed connection is so reliable that it can ensure the protection system’s excellent performance. Also, the composite protective system can effectively reduce the collision force and the damage to both bridge and vessel.