Arch Static Analysis Of The Composite Element Method

In this thesis, the arch rib of arch bridges is firstly simulated into the curved beam element. Reasonable spatial displacement models of the curved beam element are conceived and the elemental stiffness matrix and load array of such a curved beam element are also derived. Secondly, a new compound element for arch bridges is constructed. Such a compound element is composed of different structural members of arch bridges such as arch ribs, windbreaks, suspenders (or columns), crossbeams and decks. Based on the energy principle and the forming matrix method proposed by Professor Qing-Yuan Zeng, the stiffness matrix and load array of such a compound element are derived in details in the thesis.The corresponding MATLAB-based computer software is developed. Lastly, the proposed compound element formulation is used to carry out the static analysis of the Ji An arch bridge in Jangxi Province, China. Meanwhile, the static analysis of the same bridge is carried out by the commercial finite element software ANSYS and field static load testing. The deflection curve of the bridge is obtained and compared.The obtained results agree well.In such a way, the proposed compound element method for arch bridges is verified.It is demonstrated that the proposed compound element method for arch bridges has many advantages, such as less element numbers and enough accuracy. It is easy to obtain the global static behavior of arch bridges. More importantly, it is expected that this method can be an effective approach for the ultimate strength analysis and the further dynamic response analysis of arch bridges under all kinds of dynamic loads such as earthquake, wind and vehicles.