Elasto-Plastic Stability Analysis of a Twin Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge with 195m High Single Pier

Abstract

Aiming at 195m high single pier of Hezhang Bridge, elasto-plastic stability analysis on static wind loads and temperature gradients at the longest cantilevered stage for single pier has been performed by ANSYS software. To overcome the problem on buckling of main girder ahead of piers, a loading way with concentrated force instead of uniform load was presented. A general expression of beam element-based temperature distribution along pier was given. Stability analysis under three different actions of wind load at the longest cantilevered stage was conducted according to Chinese Wind-resistent Design Specification for Highway Bridges. The results show that whatever static wind load or thermal gradient effect is, the inelastic stability factors against buckling are all over 3.0 and satisfy the engineering requirement.