Issue 2: May-Aug. 2020

Asmaa Mostafa, Laila Radwan, Ahmed Gadellah, Ahmed Elmanney

Abstract: Link slabs represent a new technique to overcome the drawbacks of expansion joints. Despite the vital role of expansion joints in the relief of undesirable stresses in bridge structure, they can be considered a main source of its degradation. Link slabs are utilized over the piers developing jointless decks while adjacent bridge spans remain simply supported. This study focuses on the behavior of link slabs mounted on prestressed girder bridges instead of conventional expansion joints. A group of 3D models is built to simulate such bridge, while taking into consideration the effect of link slab length, configuration, material, and bridge’s support condition on the generated straining actions in the link slab. Also, the effect of link slab on the main girder moment is tracked. It is found that straining actions in the mid-section of link slab decrease with the increase of the debonding zone length. Also, the presence of link slab in bridge with hinged-roller-roller-hinge support configuration leads to detrimental effects on both the link slab and the girder itself. Moreover, the conventional concrete material is not suitable, from stresses and serviceability points of view, for this type of slab especially if its thickness is small compared to the bridge’s deck thickness. Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) can be used instead to withstand the generated stresses in the link slab.

International Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2020: pp. 1-24

Rose Enid Teresa Amaladosson, Umarani Chokkalingam

Abstract: Roads are the lifelines of modern transport and bridges are the most critical parts of transportation systems. Many existing bridges in India are experiencing deterioration, as the bridge codes which were used for construction of those bridges, had no seismic design provisions, and due to aging and the growth of vehicular loads in magnitude and volume. Also, the bridges are vulnerable to environmental corrosion, long term loading or their coupling effects. As the construction of new bridges involves huge time and money, the condition of the existing bridges are to be evaluated, to preserve their load carrying capacity and service performance. In the present study, an existing reinforced cement concrete T-beam cum slab road bridge (Koyambedu bridge) was experimented by conducting a live load test, to investigate the actual behaviour by measuring the flexural responses of the components of the bridge. Nonlinear Time History analysis was conducted and the results were compared with Modal Pushover analysis results.

International Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2020: pp. 25-40

Tassos P. Avraam, George T. Michaltsos

Abstract: A new point of view of how the surface roughness operates on the cars is the subject of this paper. The paper has two parts. The first studies the roughness on road while the second studies the roughness on the bridge deck. The theoretical formulation is based on a continuous approach that has been used in the literature to analyze such bridges, the procedure is carried out by the modal superposition method, while the obtained equations are solved using Duhamel’s integrals.

International Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2020: pp. 41- 55

Yuwaraj M. Ghugal, Ajay G. Dahake

Abstract: The paper presents the exact analytical solutions for built-in and simply supported end conditions of uniform, isotropic deep beams using sinusoidal refined shear deformation theory (SSDT) under transverse bending. The theory is built upon the classical beam theory including sinusoidal function in terms of thickness coordinate to include the shear deformation effects. The kinematics of the theory enforces transverse shear stress to satisfy the shear stress-free conditions on the top and bottom planes of the beam. The shear stress distribution through the thickness is realistic and requires no shear correction factor. Using the principle of virtual work, the equilibrium equations and boundary conditions have been obtained based on kinematics of the theory. To demonstrate the efficacy of the theory, the exact analytical solutions for beams, with narrow rectangular cross sections, subjected to linearly varying load, parabolic load and cosine load are obtained to examine the complete flexural response. Results obtained are discussed critically with those of other theories. The solutions obtained can be served as a benchmark for comparison of results by other refined theories.

International Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2020: pp. 57-81