Alternate Load Paths Redundancy Analysis of Steel Truss Bridges
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 27, Issue 11
Abstract
An analysis method to quantify the alternate load paths (ALPs), inspired by the concept of ALP for progressive analysis of buildings, is proposed for steel truss bridges subject to the loss of a critical member. Quantification of ALP in bridges is defined as the spectra of the surrounding members undergoing load redistribution to prevent collapse following the sudden damage to member(s) of a bridge. Two indicators – demand to capacity ratio for linear elastic analysis and strain ratio for nonlinear dynamic analysis – were incorporated into the analysis method and applied to a representative long-span truss bridge. The results of the ALP analysis showed that the three-dimensionality of truss bridges, stemming from the upper and lower braces, sides trusses, floor beam trusses, and the reinforced-concrete deck, played a primary role in protecting the bridge from collapse following the sudden removal of a member(s).
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Acknowledgments
This material is based on work supported by the Federal Highway Administration under contract number DTFH61-14-D-00010/0004, and the City University of New York High-Performance Computing Center at the College of Staten Island. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Highway Administration.
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 27 • Issue 11 • November 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 20, 2021
Accepted: Jun 17, 2022
Published online: Sep 14, 2022
Published in print: Nov 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Feb 14, 2023
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Cited by
- Xi Chen, Huihui Li, Anil Kumar Agrawal, Mohammed Ettouney, Hongfan Wang, Performance-Based Retrofits of Long-Span Truss Bridges Based on the Alternate Load Path Redundancy Analysis, Journal of Bridge Engineering, 10.1061/JBENF2.BEENG-5354, 28, 2, (2023).