Static behaviour simulation of a bridge structure by an FE-PC model

摘要

Static behaviour simulation of a highway bridge is presented for integrity assessment of an existing structure. The assessment scheme uses a combined FE analysis and in situ traffic load testing for establishing the current material characteristics. The coarse-mesh accurate hierarchic hybrid FE models used in the analysis enable simple but accurate FE discretization of the structure with a few hundred nodes, which is subjected to the p-method of refinements for convergence. The simplicity of the proposed FE modelling makes PC based high speed FE analysis possible for routine structural integrity assessment and maintenance. A typical standard reinforced concrete bridge structure is analysed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. It is shown that the present FE-PC model verifies the test measurements accurately, validating reliability of the assessment.