Interaction of Top Lateral and Internal Bracing Systems in Tub Girders
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 10
Abstract
A lateral bracing system is installed at the top flange level of a steel tub girder to form a quasi-closed box, thereby increasing torsional resistance and retaining the original box shape. A single diagonal (SD) type or crossed diagonal type is typically adopted along with intermediate internal bracing systems (also called internal cross frames) that are placed at either even or odd numbered spacing. A significant coupling action between SD bracing members and internal cross-frame members has been found to occur in the case of a SD lateral bracing system and internal cross frames placed at odd numbered panel spacing. The member forces developed in lateral bracing are 25–30% higher than those in structures with internal cross frames installed at even numbered panel spacing. Matrix equations were formulated to compute the brace forces developed in both SD lateral bracing and K-shaped internal cross-frame members subjected to bending action. Member forces computed from the new equations were compared with those from three-dimensional finite-element analysis, and an excellent agreement between the two solutions was found.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The work presented in this paper was supported in part by the Huff Eminent Scholar fund and Alabama Department of Transportation Project No. 930-563. This financial support is gratefully acknowledged. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this paper are those of the writers. They are not necessarily those of the funding agencies.
References
AASHTO. (2003). AASHTO guide specifications for horizontally curved steel girder highway bridges with design examples for I-girder and box-girder bridges, Washington, D.C.
ABAQUS. (2003), ABAQUS analysis user’s manual, Pawtucket, R.I.
Fan, Z., and Helwig, T. A. (1999). “Behavior of steel box girders with top flange bracing.” J. Struct. Eng., 125(8), 829–837.
Fan, Z., and Helwig, T. A. (2002). “Distortional loads and brace forces in steel box girders.” J. Struct. Eng., 128(6), 710–718.
Kim, K. (2004). “Research on horizontally curved steel box girders.” Ph.D. dissertation, Auburn Univ., Auburn, Ala.
Kim, K., and Yoo, C. H. (2006). “Brace forces in steel box girders with single diagonal lateral bracing systems.” J. Struct. Eng., 132(8), 1212–1222.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 10 • October 2006
Pages: 1611 - 1620
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 26, 2005
Accepted: Dec 14, 2005
Published online: Oct 1, 2006
Published in print: Oct 2006
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Brian Uy
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.