A curved shell finite element for the geometrically non-linear analysis of box-girder beams curved in plan
A four-noded curved shell finite element for the geometrically non-linear analysis of beams curved in plan is introduced. The structure is conceived as a sequence of macro-elements (ME) having the form of transversal segments of identical topology where each slice is formed using a number of the curved shell elements which have 7 degrees of freedom (DOF) per node. A curved box-girder beam example is modelled using various meshes and linear analysis results are compared to the solutions of a well-known computer program SAP2000. Linear and non-linear analyses of the beam under increasing uniformly distributed loads are also carried out. In addition to box-girder beams, the proposed element can also be used in modelling open-section beams with curved or straight axes and circular plates under radial compression. Buckling loads of a circular plate example are obtained for coarse and successively refined meshes and results are compared with each other. The advantage of this element is that curved systems can be realistically modelled and satisfactory results can be obtained even by using coarse meshes.
Analysis of curved multicell box girder assemblages
A method of analysis is proposed for curved multicell box girder grillages. The method can be used to analyze box girder grillages comprising straight and/or curved segments. Each segment can be modelled by a number of beam elements. Each element has three nodes and the nodal degrees of freedom (DOF) consist of the six DOF for a conventional beam plus DOF to account for torsional warping, distortion, distortional warping, and shear lag. This element is an extension of a straight element that was developed earlier. For a more realistic analysis of the intersection regions of non-colinear box girder segments, the concept of a rigid connector is introduced, and the compatibility requirements between adjoining elements in those regions are discussed. The results of the analysis showed good agreement with the shell finite element results, but the proposed method of analysis needs a fraction of the time and effort compared to the shell finite element analysis.
Mathematical Modeling of Scour and Deposition
Electronic computers are opening up the field of sedimentation engineering by permitting the analysis of problems which heretofore have required too much time and effort. Movable stream bed profiles are being calculated in addition to water surface profiles. The initial gradation of sediment material in the stream bed may be prescribed to facilitate the calculation of an armor layer. This gradation is continually changed by the computer program in response to sediment particles being deposited on the stream bed and material on the stream bed being removed to satisfy transport capacity. Hydraulic sorting of sediment by grain size is accomodated. The stream bed does not have to be represented by a single grain size. Retardance of motion because of armor layer is calculated.