Experimental and analytical investigation of system of horizontally curved bridge girders with tubular top flanges

Abstract

The behaviour of horizontally curved bridge girders with a tubular top flange and a flat plate bottom flange (i.e., a TFG1) was investigated experimentally and analytically. The investigation focused on the behaviour of a curved TFG1 bridge under loading conditions simulating construction of the concrete deck. The objectives include (1) to generate experimental data for the response of a curved TFG1 bridge system under vertical loading up to and beyond the load capacity; (2) to assess the adequacy of finite element (FE) models to predict this response by comparing experimental data and FE analysis results and (3) to use the experimental data and FE results to validate criteria used to design a curved TFG1 bridge. The experimental data demonstrate that the curved TFG1 bridge system satisfies the design criteria, and has a significant safety margin for the anticipated loads. The comparisons between the experimental data and the FE results show that the FE models have sufficient accuracy to predict the detailed response of curved TFG1 bridge systems.Abbreviation ListIGI-girderTFGI-shaped girder with tubular flangesTFG2I-shaped girder with a tubular top flange and a tubular bottom flangeTFG1I-shaped girder with a tubular top flange and a flat plate bottom flangeFEfinite elementFTFG1a full-size, curved TFG1 bridge with two TFG1 girders