Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Committee Chair
Samir N Shoukry
Abstract
Horizontally curved steel I-girder bridges have become a popular bridge design choice among bridge engineers. The current level of knowledge regarding the design and analysis of curved I-girder bridges under thermal loading is incomplete. The thermal expansion of curved bridges is rather complicated and current standards provide little guidance when designing a bearing plan to prevent the development of thermal stresses and out-of-plane distortional behavior. Thermal stresses, in the form of axial compressive stresses, will develop if thermal expansion is constrained. This study examines the effect of different bearing arrangements on the development of thermal stresses and out-of-plane web distortions in a newly constructed bridge located in West Virginia. Three dimensional finite element modeling and analysis is performed in order to predict bridge response. The research shows that uniform thermal loading significantly increases the magnitude of out-of-plane web distortions. Finite element modeling also shows that very significant levels of thermal stress develop in the curved steel I-girders, consuming a considerable percentage of the bridge's total capacity. The web distortions and thermal stresses will result in major serviceability issues, shortening the life of the structure. However, this behavior is largely eliminated with the implementation of a new bearing arrangement, which removes the constraints from the original bearing plan.
Recommended Citation
Beckett, Christopher L., "Effect of Temperature Variation on the Structural Capacity of a Multi-Span Horizontally Curved Steel I-Girder Bridge" (2011). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 4691.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/4691