DESCRIPTION
Essentially
a computer-aided method for analysis of
bridge decks
The deck is idealized as a series of ‘grid’ elements (or
grillages), connected and restrained at their joints
Each grid element is given equivalent bending and
torsional stiffnesses to represent the portion of the
deck which it replaces
DESCRIPTION
Bending and torsional stiffness in each slab strip are
assumed to be concentrated in nearest equivalent
grillage beam
Flexural stiffness in slab strips: longitudinal stiffness
is represented in longitudinal beams and transverse
stiffness in transverse beams
Restraints, load and supports may be applied at the
joints between the members, and members framing
into a joint may be at any angle
REQUIREMENTS
1. Equilibrium of any element of slab requires
bending moments in longitudinal elements to
equilibrate with twisting moments in intersecting
transverse grid elements, and vice versa.
2. Compatibility requires flexural rotations in
longitudinal elements to match with angles of twist
in intersecting transverse grid elements, and vice
versa.
3. Constitutive relationships provide the
relationships between bending moment and
curvature, and twisting moment and angle of twist,
in terms of plate rigidities (flexural and torsional).
In grillage analysis, these requirements are satisfied at
the node locations.
LIMITATIONS IN GRILLAGE
ANALYSIS OF SLAB DECKS
In the equivalent grillage, equilibrium and
compatibility are not satisfied at locations in between
nodes (Problem can be overcome by making the grillage
a fine mesh)
Plate flexural rigidity (Dx, Dy) in any longitudinal or
transverse strip is not properly simulated by beam
flexural rigidity (EI); i.e., Poisson effect (curvature in
orthogonal direction) ignored.
But results from grillage are found to be sufficiently
accurate for design purposes (experimentally proved)
LOCATION & SPACING OF GRILLAGE
MEMBERS FOR BEAM-SLAB DECKS
For T-beam or I-beams decks – grillage members
made coincident with the centre lines of physical
girders and these longitudinal members are given the
properties of the girders plus associated portions of the
slab, which they represent.
Bridge Deck Idealized Model
LOCATION & SPACING OF
GRILLAGE MEMBERS
Edgegrid lines may be provided at the edges of
the deck or at suitable distance from the edge
Forbridge with footpaths, one extra longitudinal
grid line along the centre line of each footpath
slab may also be provided
Alternate grillage models
The above procedure for choosing longitudinal
grid lines is applicable to both right and skew
decks
LOCATION & SPACING OF
GRILLAGE MEMBERS…
When intermediate cross girders exists in the actual
deck, the transverse grid lines represent the properties
of cross girders and associated deck slabs
Thegrid lines are set in along the centre lines of cross
girders. Grid lines are also placed in between these
transverse physical cross girders for improved
accuracy
When there is a diaphragm over the support in the
actual deck, the grid lines coinciding with these
diaphragms should also be placed
LOCATION & SPACING OF
GRILLAGE MEMBERS…
When no intermediate diaphragms are provided, the
transverse medium, i.e. deck slab, is conceptually
broken into a number of transverse strips and each
strip is replaced by a line of grid elements
The spacing of transverse grid line is somewhat
arbitrary but about 1/9 of effective span is generally
convenient. As a guideline, it is recommended that the
ratio of spacing of transverse and longitudinal grid
lines be kept between 1 and 2
Thisspacing ratio may also reflect the span-width
ratio of the deck. Therefore, for square and wider
decks, the ratio can be kept as 1 and for long and
narrow decks, it can approach to 2.
LOCATION & SPACING OF
GRILLAGE MEMBERS…
Inskew bridges, with small skew angle (less than 15o)
and with no intermediate diaphragms, the transverse
grid lines are kept parallel to the support lines.
Additionaltransverse grid lines are provided in
between these support lines in such a way that their
spacing does not exceed twice the spacing of
longitudinal lines, as in the case of right bridges
Orientation of longitudinal members should always be
parallel to the free edges
POSSIBLE GRILLAGE ARRANGEMENT
FOR SKEWED DECKS
a. b. c.
Long, narrow, highly skewed bridge deck.
(a) plan view (b) grillage mesh (c ) alternate mesh
BENDING & TORSIONAL INERTIA OF
GRILLAGE MEMBERS
Theflexural inertia of each grillage member is
calculated about its centroid.
Often the centroids of interior and edge member sections
are located at different levels. The effect of this is ignored
as the error involved is insignificant.
BENDING & TORSIONAL INERTIA OF GRILLAGE
MEMBERS – FOR SOLID SLAB DECKS
o The section properties of grid lines representing
a solid slab-:
Moment of inertia I = bd3/12 and
Torsional constant C = bd3/6. (torsion constant
for unit width = d3/6)
o It possible to assume torsional constant C = 2 I
for grillage members representing slabs
BENDING & TORSIONAL INERTIA OF GRILLAGE
MEMBERS – FOR VOIDED SLAB DECKS
o For voided slab decks – longitudinal grillage member
inertias are calculated for shaded section about neutral axis.
o Transverse member inertias are calculated as at the centre
line of void
o For void depth less than 60% of the overall depth, the
transverse inertia can be approximately taken that equal to
the longitudinal one.
o Torsional stiffness C = 2 I may be used for members
BENDING & TORSIONAL INERTIA OF GRILLAGE
MEMBERS – FOR COMPOSITE SOLID SLAB
DECKS
o Grillage mesh chosen in such a way that the
longitudinal beams are parallel to the precast beams
o Infill concrete has lower strength and stiffness than
pre stressed beams. the inertia of the beam element ( I
or C) is multiplied by the ratio of modulus of elasticity
of slab (Eslab )and that of beam (Ebeam ) materials to
convert it into equivalent inertia of beam material.
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Introduction
Longitudinal voids incorporated into concrete slab
bridge decks to reduce their self weight while maintaining
a relatively large second moment of area.
Created by placing void formers, usually made from
polystyrene, within the formwork before casting the
Concrete
It is common practice to discontinue the voids over the
supports which has the effect of creating solid diaphragm
beams there.
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Behaviour
When the void diameter is less than 60% of the
slab depth and the centre to centre spacing of voids
is not less than the slab thickness the behaviour of
voided slab decks is similar to that of solid ones.
When these limits are exceeded the slab behaves
more like a cellular deck where cell distortion
becomes predominant
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Cell Distortions in cellular decks
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Methods of Analysis
1. Orthotropic plate theory
Governing differential equation for a shear stiff plate
Where,
and flexural stiffness per unit length in
x and y directions
Cross flexural stiffness per unit 21
length
Torsional stiffness per unit length
The plate rigidities of voided slab bridges having
centrally placed voids can be obtained from the following
simplified expressions*
Where, h – thickness of slab; dv – diameter of voids and py - spacing of voids
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* Bakht et.al
2. Grillage Analysis
When applied to voided or cellular slabs or to box girders, a
shear deformable grillage is frequently used (as suggested by
Hambly) in which shear stiffness as well as flexural and
torsional stiffnesses are assigned to the grillage members.
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Grillage properties
Longitudinal flexural inertia- straightforward.
Transverse flexural inertia *
Where, h – thickness of slab; dv – diameter of voids
* Elliot
• This equation assumes that the centre of voids and the deck
centroid are located at mid-depth
• A slab where void spacing is 3 to 4 times the slab depth will 24
have a transverse rigidity in excess of that predicted by the
equation
Grillage properties
Longitudinal / transverse torsional inertia
In cases where the voids do not run throughout
the span – longitudinal grid lines run through the
entire span as usual but with different inertias for
voided and solid end portions.
In transverse direction, grid lines are also located
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at sections where voided section changes to solid
section
3. Finite Element Analysis
A typical 3D model
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3. BOX CULVERTS
RC box culverts make ideal bridge structures when the span
is low (4m or less) and when the discharge in a drain or
channel crossing a road is small (height of vent less than 3m)
and when the soil bearing capacity is low.
The top of the box section can be positioned at a depth below
the road level with a fill on top, depending on the site
conditions.
The length of the box section (square or rectangular) must be
sufficient to accommodate the carriageway plus kerbs.
The wing walls are generally splayed at 45 deg. to retain the
embankments and to guide the flow of water.
BOX CULVERTS
BOX CULVERTS…
Loading cases:
(a) Vertical (assume uniform soil pressure)
1. Vehicle load (width Be and length Le)
2. Deck self-weight (incl. wearing coat)
3. Weight of walls
(a) Horizontal
1. Triangular pressure from contained water
2. Triangular active earth pressure
3. Rectangular surcharge pressure
BOX CULVERTS…
BOX CULVERTS…
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