Development of Analysis Capabilities for Nonlinear Post-Tensioned Concrete Structures

摘要

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has used precast segmental construction for a number of bridges. Two such concrete bridges of segmental box bridge design in the Florida Keys have an unbonded arrangement of prestressing tendons and no epoxy at the segment joints. After preliminary tests on these Florida bridges, it was found that previous methods of analysis do not properly quantify the complex behavior of these bridge systems under load. The research project was initiated in order to develop a computer program with the capabilities of modeling the category of bridge more accurately. The project goal of developing advanced nonlinear analysis capabilities for post-tensioned segmental box section bridges was achieved over the two-year period with the development and installation of three new elements, Link, Tendon and Shell into the ANSR III program. Parametric studies were conducted and verification on individual and groupings of elements, as well as comparison of larger models to theory, were performed.