Shear lag effect of twin I-shaped composite girders in cable-stayed bridges

Abstract

The five loading cases for experimental models were designed to investigate the shear lag effects in composite girders of a cable-stayed bridge at the action of the positive or negative moment combined with axial and shear forces. The governing differential equations were established for the composite girder in cable-stayed bridges. The finite segment model considering the slip effect was developed using the differential equations solutions as displacement patterns. And the applicability of the finite segment model was calibrated with experimental results. The key influencing factors of effective width were analyzed by the full-scale parametric study. The slab width and cable spacing are the key factors controlling the effective slab width in composite cable-stayed bridges.