Experimental and Simulation Studies on the Mechanical Performance of T-Girder Bridge Strengthened with Transverse Connection

Abstract

In this paper, a new method is proposed for the strengthening of a T-girder bridge with a transverse connection. The proposed connection consists of a top plate, two diagonal braces, one horizontal brace, and two brackets. A series of experiments and simulation were carried out to study the mechanical properties of a T-girder bridge strengthened with transverse connections. The main parameters included the installation height and number of the transverse connections on the bridge as well as the loading patterns. The simulation results show that the strengthening effect is better when the transverse connections were installed at the bottom of the girders than at the neutral axis. It is revealed that the exterior girders are the control girders and their midspan cross sections are the control cross sections. That is, the midspan of the exterior girder is the most unfavorable loading position. The experimental results show that the proposed strengthening method can reduce 27.6% of the maximum deflection with the proposed transverse connections installed at quarter points under the most unfavorable loading position. Moreover, the transverse connections serve to improve the load distribution of a T-girder bridge as well. Thus, a favorable strengthening effect is demonstrated for a T-girder bridge with the proposed transverse connections. Some design suggestions are also given for practical engineering strengthened with the proposed transverse connections.