An Introduction to Simplified Methods of Bridge Analysis for Hong Kong

Abstract

Simplified methods for bridge designs have been allowed to use for many years by various North American bridge design codes. However such methods have not yet been permited to use in Hong Kong. The use of simplified methods will not only shorten the time spent on analysis, but will also permit the designer to retain a "feel" of behaviour of the bridge which is usually lost in traditional analyses. This paper constitutes the first report on the development of simplified methods of bridge analysis for use in Hong Kong. It presents the simplified method for the analysis of girder bridges with two lanes with the objective of generating discussion from practising designers which may lead to the enhancement of the proposed method and other methods currently under development. The results from the proposed method do not deviate significantly from those obtained by other analysis methods. The basis of simplified methods and various simplified methods adopted in recent North American bridge design codes are presented so as to give a better understanding of such methods to the bridge designers in Hong Kong. It is also interesting to find out that bridges in Hong Kong are considerably stiffer than their counterparts in north America.