Study on the natural frequency of box girders with corrugated steel webs

Abstract

In this study, an analytical formula for predicting the natural frequencies of box girders with corrugated steel webs (CSWs) was proposed based on D'Alembert's principle and Timoshenko beam theory. The proposed formula was validated through experiments conducted by previous researchers and FE simulations. The results demonstrated that the proposed formula is more applicable for predicting the natural frequencies of box girders with CSWs compared with the traditional natural frequency calculation formula based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The study found that the traditional formula, ignoring shear deformation and moment of inertia, has a considerable error in overestimating the natural frequencies of box girders with CSWs. A parameter study was performed to investigate the influences of the height to span ratio, the corrugation angle and the thickness of CSWs on the natural frequencies of box girders with CSWs. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the modification of the natural frequency calculation formula of box girders with CSWs in current specifications, research findings can also provide basis for structural dynamic analysis and design.