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Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro , Podgorica , Montenegro
Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro , Podgorica , Montenegro
During incremental bridge launching, patch loading is transferred through launching shoes. In this case, rotation of the loading block about the longitudinal axis of the girder is usually restrained. However, in some practical applications, such as crane runway girders subjected to wheel loads, the “loading block” is free to rotate. Therefore, this paper investigates the influence of loading block boundary conditions on the ultimate resistance of thin-walled I-girders. The analysis was carried out using a geometrically and materially nonlinear finite element model developed in Abaqus. The results show that web thickness, flange thickness and web height, as well as their interaction, have the greatest influence on the ultimate resistance. In addition, the parameter β, defined as the ratio between flange torsional stiffness and web bending stiffness, was evaluated. The results indicate that β cannot be considered a sufficient parameter for describing the influence of loading block boundary conditions.
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