Bridge Deck Analysis

This book, Bridge Deck Analysis, provides bridge designers with the knowledge to understand the behaviour of bridge decks, to be familiar with, and to understand the various numerical modelling techniques, to know which technique is most suited. Design of reinforced concrete bridges is normally done on the basis of a structural analysis. The purpose of the analysis is to find a distribution of sectional forces which fulfils equilibrium and is suitable for design. In the past structural analyses were often done with simplified models, for example two-dimensional (2D) equivalent beam or frame models. Such a model is not able to describe the distribution of forces in transversal directions. Therefore a design according to a 2D equivalent model will not be according to the true linear elastic distribution, even though the design might fulfil requirements in ultimate limit state (ULS) after sufficient plastic redistribution. When designing bridges it is today required that a structural analysis describes the actions of the structure in its entirety. In practice this means that a 3D-model has to be established. Therefore, several procedures exist and often differ between different companies, level of education and designer.