Construction Stage Analysis of Continuous Box Girder Bridge Constructed via Full Staging and Balance Cantilever Method

Abstract

AbstractWith the advancement in modern construction techniques, different construction methods are in practice for the erection of bridges. While planning and executing construction operations, there must be a proper consideration of effects of the selected construction method. Including a construction stage based analysis in the analysis phase of project takes care of such effects which may be of due to temporary construction loads, boundary conditions, and time-dependent material properties. The aim of this study is to analyze the prestressed continuous box girder bridge by segmentally construction stages through full staging method and balance cantilever method. In this study, various loading conditions including dead load, superimposed dead load, live load, prestressing load, and temperature variation are considered, and the results obtained from the analysis have been studied and discussed. The proposed method and computer program used, i.e., MIDAS Civil simulate the structural behavior of prestressed concrete box girders under general loading and throughout different construction stages. Study shows that, construction stage analysis using time-dependent material properties gives more reliable results compared to conventional analytical methods as construction period has a long duration and values of loads may change during the duration and after.KeywordsBalanced cantilever methodConstruction stage analysisTime-dependent material propertiesFull staging methodBridge analysis