Abstract
Combined double thin‐walled pier is a new kind of pier adopted in the urban transit system in China, whose longitudinal stiffness cannot be determined by adopting traditional methods. Aiming at this practical issue, this work proposed an alternative method for determining the longitudinal stiffness of the combined double thin‐walled pier based on the train‐track‐bridge interaction. Primarily, the relationship between longitudinal stiffness of the pier and rail stress is underlined, based on which the proposed methodology is described in detail. Finally, a case study is conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results show that the train‐track‐bridge dynamic interaction theory is effective in determining the longitudinal stiffness of the newly designed and special pier. Rail stress and longitudinal displacement of pier top exceed their limit values with the change of pier longitudinal stiffness. The dynamic stress and thermal stress of rail are the two most important indicators in determining pier longitudinal stiffness, which should be paid attention to in practical engineering.
Highlights
Due to the good mechanical performance and artistic appearance, a new kind of pier, namely, combined double thinwalled pier (CDTWP, as seen in Figure 1), is recently designed in a long-span rigid frame bridge in China’s rail transit system
The existing method for designing stiffness of the traditional hollow/thin-walled pier is not suitable for CDTWP due to the sharply changed cross-sections and composite structure; an alternative method for determining longitudinal stiffness of CDTWP is urgently needed in practical engineering
The relationship between longitudinal stiffness of CDTWP and rail stress is underlined, based on which the proposed methodology is described in detail
Summary
Due to the good mechanical performance and artistic appearance, a new kind of pier, namely, combined double thinwalled pier (CDTWP, as seen in Figure 1), is recently designed in a long-span rigid frame bridge in China’s rail transit system. CDTWP consists of two parts, i.e., the common hollow pier with high stiffness (lower part) and the double thin-walled pier with low stiffness (upper part), making the mechanical performance of this combined structure complicated. Longitudinal stiffness is a key parameter in designing CDTWP. The existing method for designing stiffness of the traditional hollow/thin-walled pier is not suitable for CDTWP due to the sharply changed cross-sections and composite structure; an alternative method for determining longitudinal stiffness of CDTWP is urgently needed in practical engineering. Focusing on a four-span continuous bridge, Chen et al studied the effect of pier stiffness on the bridge regularity in transverse direction [2]. Using a nonlinear time history analysis, Wei studied the effects of Advances in Civil Engineering
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