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Advanced Creep Analysis for Two-Span Bridges Explained

Written by Seungwoo Lee, Ph.D., P.E., S.E. | Oct 18, 2023 12:27:30 AM

Creep Analysis 5 MIDAS Example 

 

 

In this article, the previous method explained in Creep Analysis 4 is applied to a real-world bridge and compares the output with MIDAS??

Consider a two-span bridge as shown below.

Two-span bridge
 
Stage 1
 

 

Stage 2

 

The typical section is as shown.
Typical section
 

 

Section properties are:

 

 

Area

46.5119 ft2

Moment of Inertia

303.5361 ft4

Perimeter (outside)

74.0359 ft

Perimeter (inside)

35.1884 ft

Material properties are:

f'c

6 ksi

RH

70%

                 Concrete

Normal and rapid hardening

 

Creep Coefficient

 

Elastic Modulus (MPa)

 

From the graph,

φ(∞, 7) = 2.19                                   χ(∞, 7) = 0.74                                    φ(60, 7) = 0.975

φ(∞, 60) = 1.46                                 χ(∞, 60) = 0.82.

 

Ec(60)/Ec(7) = 1.040/0.882 = 1.179.

At time t1 = 60 days, the member end forces due to self-weight at span 2 can be calculated as below. Note that Ec(60)/Ec(7) = 1.179. (MIDAS file ex.2C)

 

[Member End Force] = [Stiffness]{Displacement} + {Fixed End Force}

[Stiffness]{Displacement} = [Member End Force] - {Fixed End Force}

 

Analyze two-span continuous beam for these member end loadings. Note that the section properties are as below and the loading directions may not be identical for each program. (MIDAS file ex.2D)

Results (ft, kips)

Finally, the member end forces are:


Span AB

Span BC

Check this result with MIDAS output (MIDAS file ex.2E).

Creep secondary moment (ft-kips)

 

Construction analysis from MIDAS gives creep secondary moment at pier 2 as 6866 ft-kips. The error between the two methods is 6% and again we do not know where these differences come from. However, considering the uncertainty of creep itself, the author believes this error is acceptable in practical design.

 

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