ANALYSIS OF MULTI-CELL BRIDGES WITHOUT TRANSVERSE DIAPHRAGMS - A FINITE ELEMENT APPROACH

Abstract

A NEW APPROACH TO THE ANALYSIS OF BRIDGE DECKS HAVING A CELLULAR TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION IS PRESENTED. A MODIFIED FINITE ELEMENT TECHNIQUE IS USED, AND SOLUTIONS ARE OBTAINED BY FULLY-AUTOMATIC COMPUTER PROGRAM. ONLY THE MAJOR STRESS-CARRYING NODES ARE REPRESENTED AND A CONSIDERABLE SAVING IN THE NUMBER OF SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS TO BE SOLVED IS ACHIEVED. THE DEGREE OF ACCURACY OBTAINED IS ASSESSED BY COMPARISONS WITH EMPIRICAL VALUES AND THE PROGRAMS ARE USED TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECT OF DISTORTIONAL STIFFNESS ON STRESSES. /AUTHOR/