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.

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.

Experimental investigation on seismic performance of rigid frame tied-arch bridge with split-piers

A novel seismic design method, namely split-pier seismic design, is proposed. A vertical gap and connect elements are set in split-piers. The lateral stiffness of piers is reduced by cracking of the connect elements under severe earthquake, and the seismic response of bridges is reduced by avoiding the site predominant periods. A model of tied-arch rigid frame bridge with split-piers was designed. Seismic performance was investigated by pseudo-static experimentation on the scale model, The failure process of split-piers, the hysteresis characteristic and the effect of split-piers on the superstructure are presented. Results show that the split-pier has better seismic performance than common ductile piers do.

Vibration analysis of maglev three-span rigid frame bridge considering magnetic force

The dynamic interaction between the maglev vehicle and the three-span rigid frame bridge is discussed. With the consideration of magnetic force, the interaction model is developed. Numerical simulations are performed to study the dynamic characteristics of the bridge during vehicle movement along the bridge. The results show that a reasonable value of the linear stiffness ratio of columns to beams is between 2. 0 and 3.0. The dynamic responses of the bridge are aggravated with the decrease in bending rigidity and the increase in vehicle speed and the span ratio of the bridge. It is suggested that a definite way is to control impact coefficients and acceleration in the dynamic design of the bridge. It is unsuitable to adopt the moving load model and the moving mass model in the design. The proposed results can serve in the design of high-speed maglev three-span rigid frame bridges.

Seismic response analysis of continuous rigid frame bridge considering canyon topography effects under incident SV waves

To evaluate the importance of the canyon topography effects on large structures, based on a rigid frame bridge across a 137-m-deep and 600-m-wide canyon, the seismic response of the canyon site is analyzed using a two-dimensional finite element model under different seismic SV waves with the assumptions of vertical incidence and oblique incidence to obtain the ground motions, which are used as the excitation input on the pier foundations of the bridge with improved large mass method. The results indicate that canyon topography has significant influences on the ground motions in terms of inci- dent angle. The peak ground acceleration values vary greatly from the bottom of the canyon to the upper comers. Under ver- tical incident SV waves, at the upper comers of canyon the peak ground accelerations greatly increase; whereas the peak ground accelerations diminish at the bottom comers of canyon. Under oblique incident SV waves, the shaking of the canyon slope perpendicular to the incidence direction is much more severe than that of the opposite side of canyon. And the ground surface has been characterized by larger deformations in the case of oblique incident waves. It is also concluded that the low piers and frame of the continuous rigid frame bridge ape more sensitive to the multi-support seismic excitations than the flexible high piers. The canyon topography as well as the oblique incidence of the waves brings the continuous rigid frame bridge severe responses, which should be taken into account in bridge design.

Nonlinear Stability Analysis of Long Span Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge with Thin Wall High Piers

By utilizing the current finite element program ANSYS, two types of finite element models (FEM), the beam model (BM) and shell model (SM), are established for the nonlinear stability analysis of a practical rigid frame bridge—Longtanhe Great Bridge. In these analyses, geometrical and material nonlinearities are simultaneously taken into account. For geometrical nonlinearity, updated Lagrangian formulations are adopted to derive the tangent stiffness matrix. In order to simulate the nonlinear behavior of the plastic hinge of the piers, the multi lines spring element COMBIN39 is used in the SM while the bilinear rotational spring element COMBIN40 is employed in the BM. Numerical calculations show that satisfying results can be obtained in the stability analysis of the bridge when the double coupling nonlinearity effects are considered. In addition, the conclusion is significant for practical engineering.

Stabilization of an abutment under a rigidly fixed bridge by holographical-speckle interferometry

Objective: There are no detailed reports of three-dimensional measurement of abutment teeth in mastication, because it is knotty to observe the rotation in chewing directly, and inexact to estimate indirectly. This work studies the three-dimensional stability of rigidly fixed bridge under the stresses of distributed loads and concentrated loads by optical method that gives the tip angle and rotation angle calculated directly based on measurement data. Methods: The specimen, taken from a 25-year-old male, was a left mandible without the second premolars and the first molars. As abutments, first premolar and second molar have complete periodontium. The specimen was soaked in formaldehyde solution. The bridge was fixed between two abutment teeth (first premolars and second molars), and the mandible was cemented in a steel box. The load was increased from 0 kg to 23 kg. Laser holographic technique was used to measure the three-dimensional bit shift of the dens, both buccolingual bit shift and mesiodistal bit shift, and determine tip angle and rotation angle. Results: The effects of stress distribution on the rigidly fixed bridge were evaluated, and stabilization of the bridge under the stresses of distributed loads and concentrated loads, respectively, were analyzed. The results showed that the tips of two abutments were very similar, and no distinct difference was observed between the distributed load and the concentrated load. However, the maximum rotation angle for the distributed load was two to four times as large as that for the concentrated load. In the experiment, the tip angle of the abutment teeth was no more than 0.65 degree, and the rotation angle was no more than 0.60 degree. All maximum angles occurred in the second molar. Conclusion: The fixed bridge is considered to be safe. In addition, a method for measuring the rotation angle was provided effectively.

Analytical Research on Deformation Monitoring of Large Span Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge during Operation

Based on a large span continuous rigid frame bridge in Chongqing of China, the main pier vertical displacement and deviation, the bridge deck alignment and the expansion joint deformation are analytically researched during operation. Firstly, the monitoring content and method of the large span continuous rigid frame bridge are clearly stated. Secondly, by finite element software Midas Civil, the relevant deformation values of the bridge are calculated. Thirdly, in practice, the relevant deformation values of the bridge are measured. Finally, the measured values in practice are compared with the calculated ones by the finite element software Midas Civil, finding that the former is less than the latter, and it can be concluded that the bridge is basically in the normal working condition. In this paper, the analytical research on the deformation monitoring can provide the basis for similar bridges, which has good practical significance.

Stability Analysis of Long-Span Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge with Thin-Wall Pier

During cantilever cast in construction of high-pier and large-span continuous rigid frame bridges, structural stability in the longest cantilevered stage is very important. Based on a practical design case of a large-span continuous rigid frame bridge in Wuhan, the longest span stability coefficient is calculated with linear-buckling and nonlinear-buckling methods, respectively. The influences of both geometrical nonlinearity and the dual nonlinearity of material and geometry are considered. Numerical results indicate that the nonlinear solution is necessary to stability analysis because linear buckling loads are much higher than those of nonlinear buckling. Thus, the edge fiber yield criterion is more convenient and faster than ultimate loading criterion when estimating nonlinear stability of structure, and can be used easily in the initial engineering design.

Rigid Bridges Health Dynamic Monitoring Using 100 Hz GPS Single-Frequency and Accelerometers

This article presents the modal frequency recordings of a rigid bridge, monitored by the GPS receivers (Global Positioning System) with a data recording rate of 100 Hz and accelerometers. The GPS data processing was performed through the double-difference phase, using the adjusted interferometry technique (i.e. phase residue method—PRM&reg). In the method, the double-difference phase of the carrier L1 is realized by using two satellites only, one was positioned at the zenith of the structure and the other satellite was positioned near the horizon. The results of the parametric adjustment of the PRM observations were finalized through software Interferometry, mathematical algorithm were applied and compared with the accelerometer. The comparison served to validate the use of GPS as a fast and reliable instrument for the preliminary monitoring of the dynamic behavior of the bridge, road artworks which are common in several countries, especially in the Brazilian road network. The data time series from the GPS and accelerometers were processed using the Wavelet. The detection of frequencies means that the combination of 100 Hz GPS receivers and the PRM allows detecting vibrations up to 5 mm. It presented significant results which were never obtained by the Fourier Transform.

Seismic analysis of long-span continuous rigid frame bridges in cold regions:a case study of Bridge 1 in north of international tourism resort in Changbai Mountain

It is helpful to improve the seismic design theory of long-span continuous bridges for studying the seismic performance of each cantilever construction state.Taking the Bridge 1 in the north of Changbai-Mountain international tourism resort as an example,the authors studied it in shutdown phase and the cantilever construction process,established the simulation model by using Midas / civil,and analyzed time-history of each construction stage for the bridge.The study shows that long-span bridge cantilever construction in northeastern China can be divided into two-year tasks for construction(suspending in winter).It is needed to think about seismic stability of the cantilever position in shut-down phase of winter.The effect of longitudinal vibration is the most disadvantageous influence to bridge,and its calculation results can provide reference for seismic design of similar bridges in the future.

Time-varying Reliability Analysis of Long-span Continuous Rigid Frame bridge under Cantilever Construction Stage based on the Monitored Strain Data

In general,the material properties,loads,resistance of the prestressed concrete continuous rigid frame bridge in different construction stages are time-varying.So,it is essential to monitor the internal force state when the bridge is in construction.Among them,how to assess the safety is one of the challenges.As the continuous monitoring over a long-term period can increase the reliability of the assessment,so,based on a large number of monitored strain data collected from the structural health monitoring system(SHMS)during construction,a calculation method of the punctiform time-varying reliability is proposed in this paper to evaluate the stress state of this type bridge in cantilever construction stage by using the basic reliability theory.At the same time,the optimal stress distribution function in the bridge mid-span base plate is determined when the bridge is closed.This method can provide basis and direction for the internal force control of this type bridge in construction process.So,it can reduce the bridge safety and quality accidents in construction stages.

Analysis on influence of seismic travelling wave effect on semi-active control for long-span rigid-continuous bridge

The analysis approach of semi-active control for long-span rigid-continuous bridge under seismic travelling wave input is established. Magnetorheological dampers are set on the positions of the bridge beatings. The semi-active control calculation and analysis are performed for a five-span rigid-continuous bridge under seismic travelling waves with different apparent surface velocities. The results indicate that travelling wave effect remarkably influences the uncontrolled seismic responses, the semi-active control seismic responses and vibration control effects for the long-span rigid-continuous bridge. It is disadvantageous to the responses of the beams and the piers under the travelling wave input with lower apparent surface velocity, and travelling wave effect can decrease the vibration control effects evidently. Therefore, the travelling wave effect should be considered for the selection of the parameter values of semi-active control system in order to get the designing control effect.

Cable flexural rigidity influence on suspension bridges static properties

In order to figure out the cable flexural rigidity influence on suspension bridges,a contrast model experiment is made:a chain cable model with no flexural rigidity and a wire cable model with some flexural rigidity.And then,four finite element models of a same long-span suspension bridge with different cable element are set up to be analyzed.Both experimental and numerical simulation results show that,with the increase of the span and the decrease of sag-span ratio,the influence of the cable flexural rigidity is significant.The difference of nodes displacement reaches more than 10 cm in construction analysis,which will bring some trouble to the construction.And the difference of the maximum section edge normal stress may reach 15%,which may have an adverse impact onto the bridge.Therefore,considering the cable flexural rigidity is necessary on some analysis of suspension bridges.

Maintenance Management Research of a Large-span Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge Based on Reliability Assessment by Using Strain Monitored Data

When the bridge components needing maintenance are the world problem at present,and the health monitoring system is considered to be a very help­ful tool for solving this problem.In this paper,a large number of strain data acquired from the structural health monitoring system(SHMS)installed on a continuous rigid frame bridge are adopted to do reliability assessment.Firstly,a calculation method of punctiform time-dependent reliability is proposed based on the basic reliability theory,and introduced how to cal­culate reliability of the bridge by using the stress data transformed from the strain data.Secondly,combined with“Three Sigma”principle and the basic pressure safety reserve requirement,the critical load effects distribu­tion function of the bridge is defined,and then the maintenance reliability threshold for controlling the unfavorable load state which appears in the early operation stage of this type bridge is suggested,and then the combi­nation of bridge maintenance management and health monitoring system is realized.Finally,the transformed stress distribution certifies that the load effects of concrete bridges practically have a normal distribution;as for the concrete continuous rigid frame bridge with C50 strength grade concrete,the retrofit reliability threshold should be valued at 6.13.The methodology suggested in this article can help bridge engineers do effective maintenance of bridges,which can effectively extend the service life of the bridge and bring better economic and social benefits.

Effect of Suppressed DOF on a Rigid RC Bridge Response under Strong Earthquake Motion

NLTHA （nonlinear time history analysis） is impractical for widespread used by the professional engineer because it requires long and inefficient computational time involving complexities when six DOF （degree of freedom） per node is applied. The NLTHA nowadays is predicted by MPA （modal pushover analysis）. In this method, effects of higher modes on the dynamic response are considered to estimate seismic demands for structures. In this study, the effect of the reduction of number of DOF is analyzed using 3D NLTHA together with MPA of a rigid connection RC bridge under large earthquake motion. The results are compared with the 6 DOF NLTHA in terms of response of the structure and CPU time to obtain the most efficient computational effort. Result of NLTHA showed that the computational time of the structure both for 4 DOF （without two lateral torsional effects） and 3 DOF （without two lateral torsional and vertical displacements） was reduced significantly compared to the structure using 6 DOF. The reduction of computational time was close to fifty percent both for 4 and 3 DOF＇s. When the maximum responses between NLTHA and MPA are compared, it is found that the differences are insignificant.

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.

Topographic effects on seismic response of long-span rigid-frame bridge under SV seismic wave

Seismic ground motions of two neighboring mountains and the free surface between them are calculated under the SV seismic waves with three different incident angles. The results are then taken as the inputs of multi-point seismic excitations for the foundation of a long-span bridge built over the valley in the analysis considering the integrated influence of traveling wave and topography. On the basis of a dynamic analytical method, a finite element model is created for the seismic responses of a four-span rigid-frame bridge of 440 m. The pier-top displacement and the pier-bottom internal force of the bridge are calculated. Then the results are compared with those considering traveling-wave effect only. The conclusions can serve as a seismic design reference for the structures located on the complex mountain topography.

A New Method on Resolving the Rotation in the Plane of Skew Bridges

The rotation of skew bridges in the plane is a common phenomenon in engineering. Traditional measure is to setup pins or limiting displacement with lateral bearings, but the result is not satisfactory. In order to solve this problem, the reason for the rotation in the plane is found by philosophy analysis and an idea regarding the application of slantleg frame skew bridges without abutment is brought forward in this paper. Theory and engineering practices indicate that slant-leg rigid frame bridges without abutment can restrain the rotation of skew bridges in the plane to the utmost extent because of its structural characteristics and can fundamentally solve the tough defect of skew bridges.