4D Full-Scale Finite Element Analysis in Bridge Engineering

In bridge engineering, besides the design in three-dimensional (3D) space scale, the construction at the time scale is also an important aspect that will influence the performance of a bridge in use stage. Two aspects of work are contained in this paper. Firstly, based on a three-span composite bridge of continuous box beam (88m+156m+88m), a full-scale finite element model was constructed in the program Midas FEA. Specially, the box beam is consisted of corrugated steel webs and concrete flanges. More than 300 thousand elements were applied in this full-scale model, to exactly simulate the authentic construction, shrinkage and creep of concrete, effect of pre-stressed-strand, shear lag effect and slip effect. Thus, the full-scale model may indicate the real mechanical behavior of the whole structure in both construction and use stage. Secondly, focusing on the connection style, two types of connectors including headed stud and ‘perfobond strip’ were applied in the composite box beam. Furthermore, to reduce the gravity of self-load, some parts of the concrete box in central span ware replaced by steel plate. And the performance of these three programs both in construction and usage were compared to approach an optimization design. With the simulation of four-dimensional (4D) full-scale finite element model, the results wear reasonable and exact. And the comparison research indicated that the program with stud connectors and partly replaced box beam had the best performance in key index. The 4D full-scale finite element analysis method can provide reference and experience for further study.