Error in the Theoretical Analysis of Bridge Tests for Reinforced Concrete Bridges

The finite element method is usually used in bridge analysis to compare it with the test results. In static analysis, whether or not to consider a bridge's reinforcement makes a large difference in the FEM results. The present code for bridge design on our country provides simple equations to estimate frequencies of a bridge. But for complicated situations, these equations do not tell exactly what each symbol refers to. The computational span of a continuous beam bridge with different spans and section moments of inertia of bridge with different sections are not explicit. In this paper, the factors that are usually neglected in bridge testing computations are considered to measure the influence. The computational span and section inertia of bridges with different spans and sections can be determined through a comparison of theoretical results and test data. Error in the theoretical analysis will also be analyzed to reflect the real working state of the bridge and provide a reliable reference for detection and inspection of bridge.