Lateral Load Distribution of Articulated Hollow Slab Beam Bridge Strengthened by Transverse Prestressed Force

Abstract

Aiming at the features of the articulated hollow slab beam bridges with transverse prestressed force, an assumption that regards the reinforced slab beam bridges as analogy orthotropic plate was proposed. The lateral flexural stiffness and torsional stiffness of the plate bridges per meter width can be calculated approximately as an average value of those of the solid section and the minimum hollow section. The longitudinal flexural stiffness and torsional stiffness per meter width remain the same as the original ones. The modified G-M method for calculating the strengthened bridge was proposed. Example as a typical hollow slab bridges, the lateral load distribution influence-line after strengthening bridge obtained by using modified G-M method. The numerical analysis before and after strengthening bridge by using FEM was complete to gain lateral load distribution influence-line. It shows that the values predicted by the proposed modified G-M were matched with the results by the FEM after strengthening bridge. It shows that the method strengthening articulated hollow slab beam bridges by exerting transverse prestress steel wire on them proved to be effective and the presented modified G-M theory to be right.