Effect of material uncertainties on dynamic response of segmental box girder bridge

• Main Authors: Suchart Limkatanyu, Kittisak Kuntiyawichai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prince of Songkla University 2007-11-01
• Series: Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST)
• Subjects: segmental box girder bridge; dynamic response; rapid passing train; material uncertainties
• Online Access: http://www.sjst.psu.ac.th/journal/29-6_online/0125-3395-29-6-1537-1550.pdf

The main objective of this paper was to investigate the effect of material uncertainties on dynamic response of segmental box girder bridge subjected to a moving load, in this case a rapid passing trains. Literatures concerned with the design of segmental box girder bridge, the application of finite element analysis to model the segmental box girder bridge, and the minimum requirement for structural conditions of the bridge were described and discussed in detail. A series of finite element analysis was carried out using SAP2000 Nonlinear software. The effect was investigated by varying the Modulus of Elasticity by 5%, 10% and 15%. The results were then compared with the case of assumed uniform property which had already been checked for model accuracy using the Standard prEN 1991-2. The results showed that, for the uniform case, the dynamic responses of the bridge gave the highest response at the resonance speed. When considering the non-uniform material properties (non-uniform case), the effect of material uncertainties appeared to have an effect on both displacement and acceleration responses. Nonetheless, the dynamic factor provided in the design code was sufficient for designing the segmental box girder bridge with either uniform or non-uniform material properties for the train speeds considered in this study.