Research on Monitoring Technology for Frame Piers of Continuous Box-Girder Bridges Constructed by the Cantilever Method

Abstract

This paper focuses on the analysis of the stress state of a large-span frame pier-continuous box girder bridge with pier crossbeams anchored by pier crossbeams on the main pier of the Guangfo-Zhao Expressway. The bridge is constructed by the cantilever method, and a refined finite element model of the entire bridge is established using the finite element software Midas/FEA to analyze the stress state of the frame pier during the cantilever construction process. It is found that under the possible combined action of an unbalanced load during construction, the torsional resistance of the frame pier crossbeam does not meet the requirements of the design code. In order to eliminate the torsion of the frame piers, counterweights were used to monitor the frame piers during the construction of the box girders. In this paper, the theoretical calculation formula of the inclination angle of the end section of the frame pier crossbeam with the change of unbalanced bending moment, the calculation formula of the relationship between the horizontal displacement of the frame pier and the unbalanced bending moment, and the calculation formula corresponding to the relationship with the water tank counterweight are derived using the structural mechanics method. Two monitoring methods for the frame pier are proposed. In the construction monitoring of the bridge, the numerical fitting formula obtained by finite element numerical analysis calculation is compared with the calculated formula obtained by substituting the design parameters of the frame pier into the theoretical formula. The basic constants in both formulas are basically equal, verifying the correctness of the monitoring calculation formula proposed in this paper for the torsional resistance of the frame pier crossbeam. The applicability of the two monitoring methods is also compared and analyzed. This paper takes the main pier of Chaoyang overpass’s mainline bridge as the engineering background, which adopts the framework pier with a large-span prestressed concrete continuous box girder bridge. It analyzes the torsional state of the beam of the framework pier during the bridge construction process and conducts research on the construction monitoring of the framework pier crossbeam, providing valuable references for the construction monitoring of framework pier crossbeams in the construction of large-span framework pier continuous bridges in the future. The research results of this paper can provide assistance for the construction monitoring of similar projects. This paper’s innovation primarily resides in employing structural mechanics methods to compute the torsion of frame piers. On this basis, a simplified beam torsion calculation formula is proposed to strengthen its practical application in construction monitoring. The findings of this paper can help in the construction monitoring of similar projects.