Experimental and numerical investigation of an arch–beam joint for an arch bridge

• Published in: Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering 2023-03, Vol.23 (2), p.101, Article 101
• Main Authors: Yang, Yan, Lin, Benqing, Zhang, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arch bridges; Arches; Axial compression; Boundary conditions; Bridge construction; Bridge decks; Bridge failure; Bridge loads; Buckling; Civil Engineering; Construction accidents & safety; Design techniques; Elastoplasticity; Engineering; Experimental methods; Finite element method; Highway construction; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Mechanical Engineering; Mechanical properties; Metal fatigue; Numerical analysis; Original Article; Research methodology; Steel plates; Stress analysis; Structural Materials
• ISSN: 2083-3318; 1644-9665; 2083-3318
• DOI: 10.1007/s43452-023-00645-3

In this paper, the stress analysis of the most critical beam–arch joint of Yuehu Bridge is conducted, despite the variation in the specific structure of each tied arch bridge. To achieve this, two specimens with different scale ratios were designed. The smaller specimen was used to consider the effect of bridge deck and loading to failure. The experimental results indicate that both specimens did not exhibit significant deformation under the design load, and the measuring point’s stress was located in the elastic section. This implies that the original bridge structure design is rational. However, the arch rib steel plate of the 1/8 scale specimen buckled when subjected to 1.8 times the design load. To validate the experimental results, a finite element model that considers the elastoplastic behavior of the material was established and compared with the experimental results. The comparison shows that the finite element model can predict the mechanical behavior of the structure effectively, thus confirming the rationality of the structure design. Additionally, the study also analyzed the buckling problem of tied arch bridges, which is another critical issue. The in-plane and out-of-plane buckling of fixed and hinged parabolic arches under uniform axial compression were investigated. The results demonstrate that the boundary conditions, rise-span ratio, and bridge deck width significantly affect the buckling performance. Overall, this study provides essential insights into the stress and buckling behavior of tied arch bridges, which can guide the design and construction of such structures in the future.