Research on controlling long-term performance by tensioning post tendon of long-span continuous rigid-frame bridges

The problems like cracking of the girder in the mid-span and the ever-increasing vertical deflection appear during the long term usage of the long-span continuous rigid-flame bridge. Post-tension tendon with re- served duct can increase the pre-stress of the main beam effectively, and decrease the long term span deflection in order to improve the performance of the girder. At the same time, the proper tension position is very crucial to optimise the stress distribution of the bridge and control the deflection increase. Combining with practical en- gineering, the authors analyze the influence of different positions of post-tension tendon （ including top-, web- and bottom plate tendons） on the stress and deflection of the main beam, and find out the optimal position of post tendon.

Effect of concrete creep on pre-camber of continuous rigid-frame bridge

The effect of concrete creep on the pre-camber of a long-span pre-stressed concrete continuous rigid-frame bridge constructed by cantilever casting method was investigated.The difference of creep coefficients calculated with two Chinese codes was discussed.Based on the calculations,the pre-camber of a pre-stressed concrete continuous rigid-frame box bridge was computed for construction control purpose.The results show that the short-term creep coefficient and long-term creep coefficient calculated with the CC-1985 are larger than those calculated with the CC-2004,while the medium-term creep coefficient calculated with the CC-1985 is smaller than that calculated with the CC-2004.The difference of creep deformation calculated with these two codes is small,and the influences of concrete creep on the pre-camber for most of the segments are negligible.The deflections and stresses of the box girder measured during the construction stages agree very well with the predictions.

Design and Construction Strategy of Arched Continuous Rigid-frame Bridge

With the current rapid development of urbanization in China,people's living standards have been greatly improved.In the context of such a development background,the requirements for road traffic are getting more stringent,especially for bridge projects.The arched continuous rigid-frame bridge was developed under this social background.The advantage of the bridge lies in the design of a bridge model that integrates various functions such as transportation,landscape,and sightseeing.Based on the above,this paper first refers to the case to analyze the design and construction strategy of the arched continuous rigid-frame bridge,in hope of providing a valuable reference for relevant personnel.

Auto-parametric resonance of a continuous-beam-bridge model under two-point periodic excitation:an experimental investigation and stability analysis

The auto-parametric resonance of a continuous-beam bridge model subjected to a two-point periodic excitation is experimentally and numerically investigated in this study.An auto-parametric resonance experiment of the test model is conducted to observe and measure the auto-parametric resonance of a continuous beam under a two-point excitation on columns.The parametric vibration equation is established for the test model using the finite-element method.The auto-parametric resonance stability of the structure is analyzed by using Newmark's method and the energy-growth exponent method.The effects of the phase difference of the two-point excitation on the stability boundaries of auto-parametric resonance are studied for the test model.Compared with the experiment,the numerical instability predictions of auto-parametric resonance are consistent with the test phenomena,and the numerical stability boundaries of auto-parametric resonance agree with the experimental ones.For a continuous beam bridge,when the ratio of multipoint excitation frequency(applied to the columns)to natural frequency of the continuous girder is approximately equal to 2,the continuous beam may undergo a strong auto-parametric resonance.Combined with the present experiment and analysis,a hypothesis of Volgograd Bridge's serpentine vibration is discussed.

Mechanical deformation properties of Continuous Welded Rail on kilometer-span suspension bridge for high-speed railway

The complex bridge-track interaction between kilometer-span bridges and continuous Welded Rail(CWR)brings great challenges to CWR designing.Taking a suspension bridge with laying CWR as a case,the mechanical properties of CWR on the bridge are analyzed to reveal the sensitive areas of the track,and the design method of CWR and track structures on the beam ends are proposed.The results show that the unidirectional Rail Expansion Joints(REJ)need to be installed on the beam end of the kilometer-span bridge to reduce rail longitudinal force.Due to the bridge characteristics,there is no CWR fixed area on the kilometer-span bridge,and rail longitudinal force on the main span caused by bending loads needs to be concerned.The deformation of track on the beam end is complex,which is the weak area on the kilometer bridge,the large relative displacement between the stock rail of REJ and the main beam can cause poor stability of ballast bed on beam end,small resistance fasteners need to be laid on the sides of stock rail on the main beam to increase the stability of ballast and fasteners on the beam end.To improve the driving safety and comfort of beam end,the Sleeper-Supporting Apparatus(SSA)should be specially designed to ensure the uniform transition of track on beam ends.Temperature and wind loads have a significant impact on track regularity on the kilometer span bridge,the dynamic response of trains and bridges under those loads needs to be attended to.

Static Load Test Detection of Continuous Rigid- Frame Railway Bridge

The quality of the continuous rigid-frame railway bridge is related to the safety of train operation,so it is necessary to test its stiffness,strength,and other indicators.Static load test is a common technique for bridge inspection.This article summarizes the purpose of the static load test for a continuous rigid-frame railway bridge,including the required equipment,operation methods,etc.,and lists examples to analyze the operation process and precautions of static load test,hoping to provide reference information for relevant personnel.

Overview of Design and Construction Points Analysis for the Rotating Continuous Girder Bridge

With the advancement of the economy,the construction of roads and bridges has assumed a crucial role in the development of China’s highway transportation system.The interplay between the design and construction technologies of road bridges is pivotal,as it directly impacts the subsequent operation and maintenance phases.Although the design and construction techniques for continuous girder transitions have been progressively improving,challenges still persist.This paper takes the example of the continuous girder design for the T-structure(75 m+75 m)of the Xintai Highway Crossing Yanzhou-Shijiusuo Railway Separation Interchange Project and delves into an analysis of the structural design calculations for the bridge transition,the transition structure’s design,and critical considerations during construction.The findings presented here can serve as a valuable reference for similar project designs.

Application of Long-Span Continuous Bridge Technology in Bridge Construction

In order to promote the rapid development of urbanization in our country,it is necessary to improve the construction level and technology of bridge engineering.For long-span continuous bridge technology,it has the characteristics of wide application range,various applicable conditions,and short construction period.Therefore,it is necessary to pay attention to the application of long-span continuous bridge technology.This article mainly analyzes its application in bridge construction,hoping to provide some reference for future use.

Design Technology of Continuous Beam-Arch Combination Bridges

In this paper,a research was conducted on the design technology of continuous beam-arch composite bridges.A brief introduction is given on the of continuous beam-arch composite bridges,its basic mechanical characteristics is analyzed,and three aspects of design technology is studied,which are rise-span ratio,stiffness ratio,and bridge deck cracking.This article acts as a reference for relevant design units in China to improve the design of continuous beam-arch combination bridges.

Load Test Analysis and Research on Long-Span Concrete Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge

Based on the as-built load test of a large bridge,this paper introduces the procedure of the prestressed concrete continuous rigid frame bridge load test.Numerical analysis of the bridge was carried out by simulating and establishing a finite element model,and comparative analysis was carried out with the measured values.The results show that the calculated values were basically consistent with the measured values,which showed that the establishment method of the model was reasonable,and the mechanical performance of the bridge met the service requirements of the designed live load.

Fatigue Safety Assessment of Concrete Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge Based on Rain Flow Counting Method and Health Monitoring Data

The fatigue of concrete structures will gradually appear after being subjected to alternating loads for a long time,and the accidents caused by fatigue failure of bridge structures also appear from time to time.Aiming at the problem of degradation of long-span continuous rigid frame bridges due to fatigue and environmental effects,this paper suggests a method to analyze the fatigue degradation mechanism of this type of bridge,which combines long-term in-site monitoring data collected by the health monitoring system(HMS)and fatigue theory.In the paper,the authors mainly carry out the research work in the following aspects:First of all,a long-span continuous rigid frame bridge installed with HMS is used as an example,and a large amount of health monitoring data have been acquired,which can provide efficient information for fatigue in terms of equivalent stress range and cumulative number of stress cycles;next,for calculating the cumulative fatigue damage of the bridge structure,fatigue stress spectrum got by rain flow counting method,S-N curves and damage criteria are used for fatigue damage analysis.Moreover,it was considered a linear accumulation damage through the Palmgren-Miner rule for the counting of stress cycles.The health monitoring data are adopted to obtain fatigue stress data and the rain flow counting method is used to count the amplitude varying fatigue stress.The proposed fatigue reliability approach in the paper can estimate the fatigue damage degree and its evolution law of bridge structures well,and also can help bridge engineers do the assessment of future service duration.

Comparison and Selection of Arch-Rib Construction Schemes for Continuous Beam arch Composite Bridge of High Speed Railway

The paper summarizes the four different construction schemes based on engineering cases for the arch rib construction of continuous beam-arch composite bridges for high-speed railways.These methods include in-situ assembly,segmental lifting,incremental launching and longitudinal moving,and vertical rotation.The temporary structural designs,process methods,and technological equipment for each construction scheme are described in detail.The advantages and disadvantages of each scheme and its application scope under various conditions are analyzed,and opinions and suggestions for guiding the application of each scheme are proposed.The comparison and selection analyses show that the four arch rib construction schemes have certain applicability under different conditions such as bridge site status,bridge span,and construction environment.With the continuous increase of bridge span and progress of construction technological equipment,the arch rib construction technology is developing towards the overall erection direction.This leads to more obvious technical advantages of the segmental lifting method,incremental launching and longitudinal moving method,and vertical rotation method.Therefore,it is necessary to select the best construction scheme according to the construction status and technical conditions during application.

Application of LRB isolation technology in continuous girder bridges

This paper summarizes the superiority of lead-rubber beating （LRB） continuous girder bridges. The research method for isolation performance is discussed when pile-soil interaction is considered. By the finite element method and self-compiling program, a systematic study of the reliability of LRB continuous girder bridges is given by the use of different indicators, including the riding comfort of the LRB system, the pounding and dynamic stability when the LRB system is subjected to seismic excitations, and the reliability of the LRB system when subjected to other common horizontal loads. The results show that the LRB system has obvious advantages over the traditional continuous girder structure. The LRB isolation effect remains good even when pile-soil interaction is considered; the vertical rigidity of the LRB guarantees desirable riding comfort. The LRB demonstrates good reliability when subjected to the effects of braking, wind loads and temperature. However, it is also pointed out that the pounding of the LRB system subjected to earthquakes must be avoided, and the dynamic stability may be reduced when the LRB system has higher piers and generates a larger displacement in a strong earthquake. Useful advice and guidance are proposed for engineering application.

Field Load Test Based SHM System Safety Standard Determination for Rigid Frame Bridge

The deteriorated continuous rigid frame bridge is strengthened by external prestressing. Static loading tests wereconducted before and after the bridge rehabilitation to verify the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process. Thestiffness of the repaired bridge is improved, and the maximum deflection of the load test is reduced from 37.9 to27.6 mm. A bridge health monitoring system is installed after the bridge is reinforced. To achieve an easy assessmentof the bridge’s safety status by directly using transferred data, a real-time safety warning system is createdbased on a five-level safety standard. The threshold for each safety level will be determined by theoretical calculationsand the outcomes of static loading tests. The highest risk threshold will be set at the ultimate limit statevalue. The remaining levels, namely middle risk, low risk, and very low risk, will be determined usingreduction coefficients of 0.95, 0.9, and 0.8, respectively.

Longitudinal force in continuously welded rail on long-span tied arch continuous bridge carrying multiple tracks

Considering arch rib, lateral brace, suspender, girder, pier and track position, the model for the interaction between long-span tied arch continuous bridge and multiple tracks was established by using steel-concrete composite section beam element to simulate concrete-filled steel tube(CFST) arch rib, using the beam element with rigid arm to simulate the prestressed concrete girder and using nonlinear bar element to simulate longitudinal constraint between track and bridge. Taking a(77+3×156.8+77) m tied arch continuous bridge with four tracks on the Harbin-Qiqihar Passenger Dedicated Line as an example, the arrangement of continuously welded rail(CWR) was explored. The longitudinal force in CWR on the tied arch continuous bridge, the pier top horizontal force and torque due to the unbalance load case, were analyzed under the action of temperature, vertical live load, train braking and wind load.Studies show that, it can significantly reduce track displacement to set the track expansion devices at main span arch springing on both sides; the track stress due to arch temperature variation can reach 40.8 MPa; the track stress, pier top horizontal force and torque are related to the number of loaded tracks and train running direction, and the bending force applied to unloaded track is close to the loaded track, while the braking force applied to unloaded track is 1/4 to 1/2 of the loaded track; the longitudinal force of track due to the wind load is up to 12.4 MPa, which should be considered.

Study of the seismic performance of expansion double spherical seismic isolation bearings for continuous girder bridges

The development of an expansion double spherical seismic isolation (DSSI) bearing by modifying the fixed DSSI bearing is described in this paper. The expansion DSSI bearing is characterized by its good energy dissipation and horizontal displacement capacity and has been successfully integrated into the seismic design of several important engineering projects in China. It is envisioned to be used as a substitute for ordinary expansion bearings in continuous girder bridges to distribute the longitudinal earthquake action among all the piers. Its development, configuration and working mechanism are introduced first. The test method and the seismic performance of an expansion DSSI bearing are then briefly described. A theoretical analysis followed by a numerical analysis for an actual four-span continuous girder bridge are provided as an example, and it is concluded that the expansion DSSI bearing can be integrated into the seismic design of continuous girder bridges.

Longitudinal forces of continuously welded track on high-speed railway cable-stayed bridge considering impact of adjacent bridges

A proven beam-track contact model was used to analyze the track-structure interaction of CWR (continuously welded track) on bridge. Considering the impact of adjacent bridges, the tower-cable-track-beam-pier-pile finite element model of the cable-stayed bridge was established. Taking a bridge group including 40-32m simply-supported beam and (32+80+112)m single-tower cable-stayed bridge and 17-32m simply-supported beam on the Kunming-Shanghai high-speed railway as an example, the characteristics of CWR longitudinal force on the cable-stayed bridge were studied. It is shown that adjacent bridges must be considered in the calculation of the track expansion force and bending force on cable-stayed bridge. When the span amount of adjacent bridges is too numerous, it can be simplified as six spans; the fixed bearing of adjacent simply-supported beams should be placed on the side near the cable-stayed bridge; the track expansion device should be set at the bridge tower to reduce the track force near the bridge abutment.

Dynamic finite element model updating of prestressed concrete continuous box-girder bridge

The dynamic finite element model （FEM） of a prestressed concrete continuous box-girder bridge, called the Tongyang Canal Bridge, is built and updated based on the results of ambient vibration testing （AVT） using a real-coded accelerating genetic algorithm （RAGA）. The objective functions are defined based on natural frequency and modal assurance criterion （MAC） metrics to evaluate the updated FEM. Two objective functions are defined to fully account for the relative errors and standard deviations of the natural frequencies and MAC between the AVT results and the updated FEM predictions. The dynamically updated FEM of the bridge can better represent its structural dynamics and serve as a baseline in long-term health monitoring, condition assessment and damage identification over the service life of the bridge .

Numerical analysis of dynamic response of vehicle–bridge coupled system on long-span continuous girder bridge

To systematically study the vehicle-bridge coupled dynamic response and its change rule with different parameters, a vehicle model with seven degrees of freedom was built and the total potential energy of vehicle space vibration system was deduced. Considering the stimulation of road roughness, the dynamic response equation of vehicle-bridge coupled system was established in accordance with the elastic system principle of total potential energy with stationary value and the ＂set-in-right-position＂ rule. On the basis of the self-compiled Fortran program and bridge engineering, the dynamic response of long- span continuous girder bridge under vehicle load was studied. This study also included the calculation of vehicle impact coefficient, evaluation of vibration comfort, and analysis of dynamic response parameters. Results show the impact coefficient changes with lane number and is larger than the value calculated by the ＂general code for design of highway bridges and culverts （China）＂. The Dieckmann index of bridge vibration is also related to lane number, and the vibration comfort evaluation is good in normal conditions. The relevant conclusions from parametric analyses have practical significance to dynamic design and daily operation of long-span continuous girder bridges in expressways. Safety and comfort are expected to improve significantly with further control of the vibration of vehicle-bridge system.

Mechanics model of additional longitudinal force transmission between bridges and continuously welded rails with small resistance fasteners

A new mechanics model, which reveals additional longitudinal force transmission between the continuously welded rails and the bridges, is established on the fact that the influence of the mutual relative displacement (among) the rail, the sleeper and the beam is taken into account. An example is presented and numerical results are compared. The results show that the additional longitudinal forces calculated with the new model are less than those of the previous, especially in the case of the flexible pier bridges. The new model is also suitable for the analysis of the additional longitudinal force transmission between rails and bridges of ballastless track with small resistance fasteners without taking the sleeper displacement into account, and compared with the ballast bridges, the ballastless bridges have a much stronger additional longitudinal force transmission between the continuously welded rails and the bridges.