Investigation of longitudinal movements of girder ends considering various longitudinal non-linear resistances in railway suspension bridges

Abstract

The functionality of expansion joints, bearings, and dampers in suspension bridges is directly impacted by the longitudinal movement of the girder ends. The complex longitudinal resistance of the girder significantly influences this movement in railway suspension bridges. This study develops an analytical model of a railway suspension bridge using measured displacement. The model encompasses various longitudinal nonlinear resistances, including girder-rail interaction, bearing friction, and viscous dampers, enabling a detailed analysis of longitudinal motion characteristics and deformation patterns of girder ends under train loads. This study investigates the effects of various longitudinal resistances on the movement of the girder and stress within the connecting components. A novel central buckle design is proposed to reduce the stress amplitude of the central buckles in railway suspension bridges. Results show that the innovative analysis model can accurately assess the longitudinal movement of girder ends in railway suspension bridges, aligning closely with the measured. The girder displays minimal longitudinal movement under train loads, owing to the longitudinal nonlinear resistances. However, there is a significant relative longitudinal displacement between the cable and girder in short hangers, leading to a considerable increase in bending stress and vast stress in the central buckle. Consequently, when studying the longitudinal movement in railway suspension bridges, it is critical to comprehensively analyze the longitudinal displacement of girder ends and the stress across various bridge components. The novel central buckle effectively mitigates excessive stress on the central buckle during train passage and simultaneously alleviates bending stresses of the short hangers. The findings of this study offer invaluable theoretical direction and practical engineering insights for the rational design of railway suspension bridges.