Research on Transverse Load Distribution Factors for Jointless Bridges

Abstract

The FEM of the jointless bridge were established with the program ANSYS considering the soil-structure interaction. The pattern of different loads influencing on the transverse load distribution of the middle section and the change of transverse load distribution factors along longitudinal direction were studied. Different transverse load distribution factors were compared with the simple beam bridge, and the influence of structure parameters was analyzed. The practical tables calculating transverse load distribution factors were provided and validated by the example. The researching results indicate that, transverse load distribution factors can be studied by the transverse distribution influence line of the deflection with the loading format of the single concentrated load adopted for jointless bridge, the transverse load distribution factors of the middle section can be adopted as the one of the all span, that the transverse load distribution factors of the side beam of the jointless bridge is less than the one of the simple beam bridge, but the factors of middle of two bridges are very closely, and the practical tables are correct for calculating transverse load distribution factors.