Training Programme on Steel/Composite Bridge

TIME 14.00 15.30

Venue : Dehradun, UTTARAKHAND

PRESENTER Reepak; Kallot; Abhijit Ghosh

TOPICS Different parts/components/steel & Composite Bridges

DIFFERENT PARTS/COMPONENTS/STEEL & COMPOSITE BRIDGES

Earlier, for the second set of this campaign at Uttaranchal, a 110m long Truss and its
alternatives of a Flat Arch 110m from springing point to Springing point and a
continuous plate Girder/RC deck composite structure of spans 30m 50m 30m(=
110m) were chosen for hands on exercise.
As, three A3 size drawing have been made, a descriptive itemization of the
components may be useful.
(1) THE TRUSS (Proportions in Second set) the truss is meant to be a modified
warren Truss, which is good looking as well as efficient.
The Truss will have these following components:
1(1) Bottom Chord (Tension) with maximum section size in the middle, as there
tension will be most severe.
1(2) Top Chord (Compression) with maximum Section size at the middle, where
there would be maximum compression.
This member, cannot buckle, upwards or downwards, because of Diagonals and
Verticals, which are called Shear Members or Web Members but it can buckle sid
ways.
Therefore it should be restrained by Plan Bearings provided at the centre of the Top
chords, connected by a Triangulated framework to both the chods.
1(3) The Web Members e.g. the Diagonals and the Verticals
The first Diagonal is over the Bearing and is subjected to very severe compression. It
is called Raker.
The Second Member is a Vertical which by virtue of its 90 angle between itself and
the bottom chord, should have Zero Force but it is used to support Two Cross
girders and thus reduces the local bending stress in the bottom chord.
The third member is a Diagonal which is in Tension being connected with the
Raker at the Top.

As these are Shear Members the forces will be progressively less, as the members
approach the centre of the span.
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Training Programme on Steel/Composite Bridge

Venue : Dehradun, UTTARAKHAND

So, these are three types of Web members namely, The Compression Diagonals,
including the Raker, the Tension Diagonals and the Verticals, which are perpendicular
to the bottom chord.
1(4) PLAN BEARINGS AT OF TOP CHORD.
These members are supposed to give lateral stability to the Top chords, which can
buckle sideways. The forces for which these members are to be designed, are 2%
of the local compressive force, in the Top chord.
1(5) Cross Girders Composite Sections which are connected to the deck slab by
Shear Connectors and are called Ladder type Floor Duck Supports
With an overhang at both sides, they constitute the carriage way for vehicles and
footways at sides.
These in a nutshell, are the 5 types of main members, which can be analysed as a
SPACE FRAME if desired and the member size assumptions justified by any
modern code, such as BS 5400 Parts 3, 4 (for design) and 5, Bearings, Splices, Web
Member to chord girder connections, RCC abutments etc. are extra.
2.0 THE FLAT ARCH
An open Web truss configuration albeit lighter than a system of plate
girder or one single box girder, will be still fairly heavy.
The alternative is flat Arch which would be much lighter.
Here the components are
The Arch Rib
The Spandrel Columns
The side girders continuous
The cross girders which would be composite.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1. THE ARCH RIBS :The arch ribs are usually made up of built up I section to ease connections to
spandrel columns. Modern concepts use CHS or SHS but here both the connections
and the resulting joint designs are complex and lends to good quality site welding
only. Blind bolts etc. for connecting tube to tube are not available in India yet.
Therefore the Arch Ribs interconnected with In Plane Triangulated Bracings will be
of built up HTS section.

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Training Programme on Steel/Composite Bridge

Venue : Dehradun, UTTARAKHAND

A Two Pin or rather a fixed base such Rib, happens to be of variable section depth
and subjected to combined Bending and Compression the compressive forces being
dominant.
The Thurst goes in the foundation Rock and chances of slip circle failures will be
absent.
Splices can be welded Rectangular End plate type which is efficient for a
compressive member but may be considered ugly. All connections should be made
of HSFG bolts.
1. THE SPANDREL COLUMNS:The Spandrel columns behave like the verticals of a vierendeel Frame and should be
having moment connections with both the Edge Girder and the Arch Rib.
The Spandrel columns too should be of built up or Rolled parallel flange I sections
with bolted base plate on the arch Rib and bolted Cap Plate under the Edge girder.
Spandrel columns should be braced together in the transverse direction, so as to
distribute Earthquake. The column tops should be braced in plan.
2. THE EDGE GIRDER:The Edge Girder or Side Girders too should be of built up I section and continuous
over the Spandrel column.
The Edge Girder will be expected to go beyond the Springing points of the Arch
ending up on, say, Dwarf Abutments
The length of the overhand depends on the slope of the Gorge side.
3. THE CROSS GIRDERS :The Cross Girders are expected to be composite and thus made up of flanges of unequal widths. Top Flange will narrower and Bottom Flange will be wider.
Like the concept in the Truss, the Ladder Type cross Girder would have overhangs,
which would double up as footpaths, as well as for carriage of services.
The Cross Girders are to be laterally supported at the wet concrete stage
to prevent lateral torsional buckling of the top flange which would be in
compression.
(3)CONTINUOUS COMPOSITE HTS (Gr 450)
FCU 35; PARAPET, UPSTAND GR FCU 40.

PLATE GIRDERS RC DECK. GR.

COMPONENTS OF 30, 50, 30 = 110, TOTAL LENGTHS 4 GIRDER BRIDGE.

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Training Programme on Steel/Composite Bridge

Venue : Dehradun, UTTARAKHAND

For a typical plate Girder/RC deck continuous composite, the principal components
would be as follows :1.1
1.2

1) Main plate girders much be of Even Number e.g. 2, 4, 6 or 8.

Span Sections
Pier Sections

1) Intermediate Cross Bracings between pairs of girder for ensuing lateral

to compression flanges.

stability

2) Cross Bracings over Piers continuous to laterally support compression flange at

bottom and also to share, Transvene horizontal loads (Earthquake, wind, impact etc.)
3) Web stiffeners vertical at Span.
4) Web stiffener Horizontal at Piers.
5) Web stiffener Horizontal at Piers.
6) Bearing stiffeners
7) Jacking stiffeners
8) Splices
9) Shear studs
10)

Hooks for restraing Earthquake

These are general topics which need to be checked with the codal demand for Safety.
Each component described above has its BS 5400 Parts 3,4 & 5 clauses and the
Designer is supposed to see, codal safety provisions are honoured.
The RC part of them e.g. Deck, will be supported by Part 4 and shear stud etc. will be
supported by Part 5. Most of the steel component are to be checked by clauses from
Part 3.
Once the real life hands on job are started, the day to day Design Office involvement
will be clear.

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