Conceptual Design of Modular Bridges Including Layout Optimization and Component Reusability
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 22, Issue 11
Abstract
Modular or panelized bridges, comprised of stacked rectangular panels forming girder-type bridges, are the most widely used approach for rapidly erectable bridging. Limitations of these systems, however, include inefficient material distribution of both panels and lateral bracing. This research addresses this challenge by implementing structural optimization for the conceptual design of modular bridges, including module topology and spatial orientation optimization. This contribution generalizes an existing formulation for optimizing modular trusses to include (1) reusability of modules among multiple structures and (2) practical considerations in design, such as multiple types of modules, multiple load cases, the capability to compute the displacements in an elastic design formulation, and limitation on stresses. This methodology is demonstrated for the conceptual design of single- and double-story simply supported bridges. Further studies find that (1) incorporating module reusability results in a trade-off between constructability and material efficiency and (2) better designs can be obtained by modifying the module configuration. This research culminates in guidelines to assist designers during preliminary design phases.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the Fond National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS, Belgium) for its financial support.
References
AASHTO. (2012). AASHTO LRFD bridge design specifications, customary U.S. units, Washington, DC.
Achtziger, W., and Kanzow, C. (2008). “ Mathematical programs with vanishing constraints: Optimality conditions and constraint qualifications.” Math. Program., 114(1), 69–99.
Acrow Bridge. (2016). “ Acrow 300 series vs. 700XS series.” Proc., Florida DOT Design Conf., Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Tallahassee, FL.
Bendsøe, M. P., and Sigmund, O. (2003). Topology optimization: Theory, methods, and applications, Springer, Berlin.
Briseghella, B., Fenu, L., Lan, C., Mazzarolo, E., and Zordan, T. (2013). “ Application of topological optimization to bridge design.” J. Bridge Eng., 790–800.
Byrd, R. H., Gilbert, J. C., and Nocedal, J. (2000). “ A trust region method based on interior point techniques for nonlinear programming.” Math. Program., 89(1), 149–185.
Byrd, R. H., Hribar, M. E., and Nocedal, J. (1999). “ An interior point algorithm for large scale nonlinear programming.” SIAM J. Optim., 9(4), 877–900.
Chen, Y., Zhou, S., and Li, Q. (2010). “ Multiobjective topology optimization for finite periodic structures.” Comput. Struct., 88(11–12), 806–811.
Department of the Army. (1986). “Bailey bridge.” Field manual no. 5-277, Headquarters, Dept. of the Army, Washington, DC.
Descamps, B., and Filomeno Coelho, R. (2013). “ A lower-bound formulation for the geometry and topology optimization of truss structures under multiple loading.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 48(1), 49–58.
Dorn, W. S., Gomory, R. E., and Greenberg, H. J. (1964). “ Automatic design of optimal structures.” J. de Mecanique, 3, 25–52.
Fellini, R., et al. (2004). “ A sensitivity-based commonality strategy for family products of mild variation, with application to automotive body structures.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 27(1–2), 89–96.
Gerbo, E., Casias, C., Thrall, A., and Zoli, T. (2016). “ New bridge forms composed of modular bridge panels.” J. Bridge Eng., 04015084.
Huang, X., and Xie, Y. M. (2008). “ Optimal design of periodic structures using evolutionary topology optimization.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 36(6), 597–606.
Joiner, J. (2001). One more river to cross: The story of British military bridging, Pen and Sword Books, South Yorkshire, U.K.
Kalyanmoy, D., Zhu, L., and Kulkarni, S. (2015). “ Multi-scenario, multi-objective optimization using evolutionary algorithms: Initial results.” Proc., 2015 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC), IEEE, New York, 1877–1884.
Krog, L., Tucker, A., and Rollema, G. (2002). “ Application of topology, sizing and shape optimization method to optimal design of aircraft components.” Proc., Altair Hyperworks 3rd UK Conf., Altair, Troy, MI, 1–12.
Moses, E., Fuchs, M. B., and Ryvkin, M. (2003). “ Topological design of modular structures under arbitrary loading.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 24, 407–417.
Russell, B., and Thrall, A. (2013). “ Portable and rapidly deployable bridges: Historical perspective and recent technology developments.” J. Bridge Eng., 1074–1085.
Ryvkin, M., and Fuchs, M. B. (1999). “ Optimal design of infinite repetitive structures.” Struct. Optim., 18(2–3), 202–209.
Stolpe, M., and Svanberg, K. (2003). “ A note on stress-constrained truss topology optimization.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 25(1), 62–64.
Torstenfelt, B., and Klarbring, A. (2006). “ Structural optimization of modular product families with application to car space frame structures.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 32(2), 133–140.
Tugilimana, A., Thrall, A. P., Descamps, B., and Filomeno Coelho, R. (2017). “ Spatial orientation and topology optimization of modular trusses.” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 55(2), 459–476.
Wang, Y., Thrall, A. P., and Zoli, T. P. (2016). “ Adjustable module for variable depth steel arch bridges.” J. Constr. Steel Res., 126(Nov), 163–173.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 22 • Issue 11 • November 2017
Copyright
© 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 16, 2016
Accepted: May 31, 2017
Published online: Sep 1, 2017
Published in print: Nov 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Feb 1, 2018
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.