The impact on curved box-girder bridges due to vehicle moving across rough bridge deck have been analyzed using bridge-vehicle coupled dynamics. The bridge deck unevenness has been assumed to be a homogeneous random process in space specified by a PSD function. The analysis incorporates the effect of centrifugal forces due to vehicle moving on curved bridge. The curved box-girder bridge has been numerically modeled using computationally efficient thin-walled box-beam finite elements which take into account the torsional warping, distortion and distortional warping, that are important features of thin-walled box girders. Rigid vehicle with longitudinal and transverse input to the wheels giving rise to heave-pitch-roll degrees of freedom has been considered. The theoretical bridge model used in simulation study has been validated by a free vibration experiment using impact excitation. The impact factors for several response parameters such as bending moment, shear force, torsional moment, torsional bi-moment, distortional moment, distortional bi-moment and vertical deflections have been obtained for various bridge-vehicle parameters. Both constant velocity and forward acceleration of the vehicle have been considered to examine impact factor. The results highlighted that the impact factors of a curved box girder bridge corresponding to torsion, distortion and their corresponding bimoments have been observed to be generally very high, while those of the other responses are also relatively higher than that of corresponding straight box girder bridge.

Purpose: The primary objective of the current study is to numerically model the steel thin-walled curved box-girder bridge and to examine its various response parameters subjected to Indian Railway loading. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis is conducted by adopting a one dimensional curved thin-walled box-beam finite beam element based on finite element methodology. The scope of the work includes a computationally efficient, three-noded, one-dimensional representation of a thin-walled box-girder bridge, which is especially desirable for its preliminary analysis and design phase, as well as a study of the static characteristics of a steel curved bridge, which is critical for interpreting its dynamic response. Findings: The analytical results computed using finite element based MATLAB coding are presented in the form of various stress resultants under the effect of various combinations of Indian Railway loads. Additionally, the variation in different response parameters due to changes in radius and span length has also been investigated. Research limitations/implications: The research is restricted to the initial design and analysis phase of box-girder bridge, where the wall thickness is small as compared to the cross-section dimensions. The current approach can be extended to future research using a different method, such as Extended finite element technique on curved bridges by varying boundary conditions and number of elements. Originality/value: The validation of the adopted finite element approach is done by solving a numerical problem, which is in excellent agreement with the previous research findings. Also, previous studies had aimed at thin-walled box girders that had been exposed to point loading, uniformly distributed loading, or highway truck loading, but no research had been done on railway loading. Moreover, no previous research had performed the static analysis on thin-walled box-girders with six different response parameters, as the current study has. Engineers will benefit greatly from the research as it will help them predict the static behaviour of the curved thin-walled girder bridge, as well as assess their free vibration and dynamic response analysis.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The box-girder bridge has recently gained a lot of popularity because of its serviceability, stability, and structural efficiency. The box-girder bridge also has a lower structural weight than any other type of bridge. However, the analysis of such a bridge is too complex and challenging for the designers. This paper offers a modelling process for the study of a box- girder bridge with a ballastless sub-track system using the finite element method and evaluates the different static response characteristics of the bridge when it is loaded according to Indian Railway standards. The modelling and the evaluation of the 3D model of the bridge have been done using non-closed form finite element method (FEM) based ANSYS software and loadings have been applied symmetrically and un- symmetrically. Static analysis is carried out. The model has been simulated, and the resultants of deflection and stresses have been determined, taking into account the effect of different combinations of loading from the Indian Railways. The present modelling process is applied to analyze the box-girder bridge for 5 spans of 32 m each. For analysis of any box-girder bridge, though, researchers can use the modelling process described above.

PurposeIn this study, a finite element model of a box-girder bridge along with the railway sub-track system is developed to predict the static behavior due to different combinations of the Indian railway system and free vibration responses resulting in different natural frequencies and their corresponding mode shapes.Design/methodology/approachThe modeling and evaluation of the bridge and sub-track system were performed using non-closed form finite element method (FEM)-based ANSYS software.FindingsFrom the analysis, the worst possible cases of deformation and stress due to different static load combinations were determined in the static analysis, while different natural frequencies were determined in the free vibrational analysis that can be used for further analysis because of the dynamic effect of the train vehicle.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of the current investigation is confined to the structure's static and free vibration analysis. However, this study will help the designers obtain relevant information for further analysis of the dynamic behavior of the bridge model.Originality/valueIn static analysis, the maximum deformation of the bridge deck was found to be 10.70E-03m due to load combination 5, whereas the maximum natural frequency for free vibration analysis is found to be 4.7626 Hz.

No abstract