Skewed Discretely Connected Multi‐Beam Bridges

Abstract

Recent multi‐beam bridge designs have been developed around standard prestressed, precast double‐tee sections to combat the high cost of this particular type of bridge design. Although several methods of multi‐beam bridge analysis are available, none are applicable to discretely connected or skewed bridges. A procedure for the analysis of skewed, discretely connected multibeam bridges is presented. The method of analysis proceeds through three distinct phases: (1) Development of a single beam response model; (2) modeling of connection response; and (3) generation of a governing system of equations for the total structure. The first phase is accomplished through the use of statics, and connection response is modeled by linear and rotational springs resisting relative displacement between adjacent beams. The governing equations for the response of the assembled bridge take the form of a symmetric banded linear system in which the four forces at each connection in the bridge are the unknowns.