Overload Flexural Distribution Behavior of Composite Steel Girder Bridges
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 20, Issue 5
Abstract
Using equations proposed by the AASHTO LRFD specifications, live-load distribution factors in bridge superstructures were calculated based on the linear-elastic behavior of the system. In this study, the applicability of these equations in predicting girder distribution behavior in the presence of high material nonlinearity and oversized loading scenarios was investigated. Two representative composite steel girder bridge superstructures, which are in service in the state of Michigan and had been previously subjected to a live-load testing program, were selected for this study. Sixteen cases were analyzed to study the effect of boundary conditions, loading position, and load configuration on the girder distribution behavior of the selected bridges as they approach their ultimate capacities. Comparing the results obtained from nonlinear finite-element analysis with those proposed by the AASHTO LRFD specifications demonstrated that the code-specified values for the distribution factors are overly conservative. Much of the variation in distribution behavior occurs when plasticity propagates in steel girders, whereas the initiation of material nonlinearity in the concrete deck (cracking) has a negligible effect on the evolution of distribution behavior. The results of this investigation also highlight the importance of accurate modeling and analysis in the load rating practices of existing in-service bridge superstructures.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The details on the structures evaluated were derived from a report by Andrzej Nowak (Nowak and Eom 2001) with structural details provided by the MDOT. The contents of the paper reflect the views of the authors who are responsible for the accuracy of the data presented herein, and do not express the views of the MDOT.
References
AASHTO. (1992). Standard specifications for highway bridges, 15th Ed., Washington, DC.
AASHTO. (1994). LRFD bridge design specifications, 1st Ed., Washington, DC.
ANSYS 14.0 [Computer software]. Canonsburg, PA, Ansys.
Bae, H. U., and Oliva, M. G. (2012). “Moment and shear load distribution factors for multigirder bridges subjected to overloads.” J. Bridge Eng., 519–527.
Bakht, B., and Jaeger, L. G. (1992). “Ultimate load test of slab-on-girder bridge.” J. Struct. Eng., 1608–1624.
Barker, R. M., and Puckett, J. A. (2007). Design of highway bridges, an LRFD approach, 2nd Ed., Wiley, Hoboken, NJ.
Barth, K. E., and Wu, H. (2006). “Efficient nonlinear finite element modeling of slab on steel stringer bridges.” Finite Elem. Anal. Des., 42(14–15), 1304–1313.
Bechtel, A., McConnell, J., and Chajes, M. (2011). “Ultimate capacity destructive testing and finite-element analysis of steel I-girder bridges.” J. Bridge Eng., 197–206.
Bishara, A. G., Liu, M. C., and El-Ali, N. D. (1993). “Wheel load distribution on simply supported skew I-beam composite bridges.” J. Struct. Eng., 399–419.
Canadian Standards Association (CSA). (2010). “Canadian highway bridge design code.” CSA S6-00, Rexdale, ON, Canada.
Cheung, M. S., Gardner, N. J., and Ng, S. F. (1986). “Load distribution characteristics of slab-on-girder bridges at ultimate.” Proc., 2nd Int. Conf. on Short and Medium Span Bridges, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, Montréal, 461–485.
Chung, W., Liu, J., and Sotelino, E. D. (2006). “Influence of secondary elements and deck cracking on the lateral load distribution of steel girder bridges.” J. Bridge Eng., 178–187.
Conner, S., and Huo, X. S. (2006). “Influence of parapets and aspect ratio on live-load distribution.” J. Bridge Eng., 188–196.
Fu, G., and Hag-Elsafi, O. (1996a). “A bridge live load model including overloads.” Proc., 7th Specialty Conf. on Probabilistic Mechanics and Structural Reliability, D. M. Frangopol and M. D. Grigoriu, eds., ASCE, Reston, VA, 34–37.
Fu, G., and Hag-Elsafi, O. (1996b). “New safety-based checking procedure for overloads on highway bridges.” Transportation Research Record N1541, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 22–28.
Gheitasi, A., and Harris, D. K. (2014a). “A performance-based framework for bridge preservation based on damage-integrated system-level behavior.” Proc., 93rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Gheitasi, A., and Harris, D. K. (2014b). “Failure characteristics and ultimate load-carrying capacity of redundant composite steel girder bridges: Case study.” J. Bridge Eng., in press.
Ghosn, M., and Moses, F. (1997). “Redundancy in highway bridge superstructures.” Final Rep. Prepared for National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Rep. 406, Dept. of Civil Engineering, City Univ. of New York, New York.
Green, T., Yazdani, N., and Spainhour, L. (2004). “Contribution of intermediate diaphragms in enhancing precast bridge girder performance.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil., 142–146.
Harris, D. K. (2010). “Assessment of flexural lateral load distribution methodologies for stringer bridges.” Eng. Struct., 32(11), 3443–3451.
Harris, D. K., Cousins, T., Murray, T. M., and Sotelino, E. D. (2008). “Field investigation of a sandwich plate system bridge deck.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil., 305–315.
Harris, D. K., and Gheitasi, A. (2013). “Implementation of an energy-based stiffened plate formulation for lateral load distribution characteristics of girder-type bridges.” Eng. Struct., 54(Sep), 168–179.
Hays, C. O. (1984). “Evaluating bridge overloads using the finite element method.” Proc., Int. Bridge Conf., Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, 232–238.
Heins, C. P., and Kuo, J. T. C. (1975). “Ultimate live load distribution factor for bridges.” J. Struct. Div., 101(7), 1481–1496.
Kathol, S., Azizinamini, A., and Luedke, J. (1995). “Strength capacity of steel girder bridges.” Final Rep. RES1(0099) P469, Nebraska Dept. of Roads (NDOR), Lincoln, NE.
Khaloo, A. R., and Mirzabozorg, H. (2003). “Load distribution factors in simply supported skew bridges.” J. Bridge Eng., 241–244.
Mabsout, M. E., Tarhini, K. M., Frederick, G. R., and Kesserwan, A. (1998). “Effect of continuity on wheel load distribution in steel girder bridges.” J. Bridge Eng., 103–110.
Mabsout, M. E., Tarhini, K. M., Frederick, G. R., and Kobrosly, M. (1997). “Influence of sidewalks and railings on wheel load distribution in steel girder bridges.” J. Bridge Eng., 88–96.
Michigan DOT (MDOT). (2013). Michigan’s truck-weight law and truck-user fees, MDOT Intermodal Policy Division, 〈http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_013-4-16TruckWeightsMichigan_418609_7.pdf〉 (Sep. 3, 2013).
Moses, J. P., Harries, K. A., Earls, C. J., and Yulismana, W. (2006). “Evaluation of effective width and distribution factors for GFRP bridge decks supported on steel girders.” J. Bridge Eng., 401–409.
Nowak, A. S., and Eom, J. (2001). “Verification of girder distribution factors for steel girder bridges.” MDOT 2000-0341 DIR, Michigan DOT, Lansing, MI.
Razaqpur, A. G., Shedid, M., and Nofal, M. (2012). “Inelastic load distribution in multi-girder composite bridges.” Eng. Struct., 44(Nov), 234–247.
Robitaille, P., and Girard, R. (2013). “Super-sized, 780-tonne oil sands vessel hits Highway 63.” Alberta Oil, 〈http://www.albertaoilmagazine.com/2013/04/oilsands-megamodules-fort-mac〉 (Aug. 29, 2013).
Tabsh, S. W., and Tabatabai, M. (2001). “Live load distribution in girder bridges subject to oversized trucks.” J. Bridge Eng., 9–16.
Zokaie, T. (2000). “AASHTO-LRFD live load distribution specifications.” J. Bridge Eng., 131–138.
Zokaie, T., Osterkamp, T. A., and Imbsen, R. A. (1991). “Distribution of wheel loads on highway bridges.” NCHRP 12-26/1 Final Rep., National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Washington, DC.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 20 • Issue 5 • May 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 2, 2014
Accepted: Jun 26, 2014
Published online: Jul 16, 2014
Published in print: May 1, 2015
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.