A sandwich-type Winkler-Pasternak double elastic foundation beam model for analysis of nut column load transfer systems of shiplifts

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The rack and pinion shiflifts feature its capability of fortification against extreme accidents of unbalance of ship chamber. This requires the load transfer systems of nut columns to be able to transfer the huge and centralized loads from the safety mechanisms to the tower columns in a distributive bearing way. Aiming at exploring a design-oriented computation method for the nut column load transfer systems (NCLTSs), a sandwich-type semi-infinite coupling Winkler-Pasternak double elastic foundation beam model (DEFBM) has been established, with a distributive assumption of the axial constrain force on the interfaces between the nut columns, mortar beds, adjusting beams and the second stage concrete based on the physical model test, has been proposed. A set of formulars for describing the distribution of deflections, internal forces and stress of nut columns and adjusting beams have been derived. A case study of the Three-Gorges shiplift has been conducted to demonstrate the approach of calculation of internal forces and stress by applying the formulas based on sandwich-type Winkler-Pasternak DEFBM, showing the convenience and rationality of the method to parametric layout design of the nut columns and adjusting beams in NCLTSs. Not only to NCLTSs and rack load transfer systems of shiplifts, the sandwich-type Winkler-Pasternak DEFBM also supplies the reference to the modeling and analysis of the rail-embedment structural systems broadly applied in hydraulic engineering.