A Study of the Mechanical Behavior of a Steel–Concrete Hybrid Beam Bridge during Construction

Abstract

To study the mechanical properties of steel–concrete joints during construction, the Mao Port Bridge in Shanghai is used as a case study. The mechanical properties of the bridge and the joint under the construction conditions were studied based on the site construction monitoring results, the finite element calculation of the entire bridge and the refined model of the joint. The results show that the finite element analysis of the bridge and the stress analysis of the joint during the construction phase agreed with the measured values, the end of block 0# of the main span remained in compression during construction and the compressive stresses varied in a zigzag pattern with the progress of construction. The lifting of the mid-span steel beam is a critical construction condition where the side spans of the girders are stretched upwards by 20.9 mm and the main spans are stretched downwards by 32.3 mm. When the steel beam was lifted, the joint was compressed as a whole. At the joint, the longitudinal stresses in the steel structure gradually decreased from the front bearing plate to the joint face, while the longitudinal stresses in the concrete structure gradually increased.

Keywords

• steel–concrete joint
• hybrid continuous beam
• construction process
• on-site monitoring
• mechanical behavior