Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete slab-on-girder bridges with and without intermediate diaphragms

This paper presents results obtained from a nonlinear finite element analysis of slab-on-girder reinforced concrete bridges. Nonlinearity included: concrete cracking, behavior of concrete in compression, and reinforcement yield. Twenty-seven bridges were analyzed under truck loads based on the Egypt...

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Main Authors: Mohie E. Shoukry, Tarek I. Ebeido, Zaki I. Mahmoud, Heba S. Mohamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Alexandria Engineering Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016825003886
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author Mohie E. Shoukry
Tarek I. Ebeido
Zaki I. Mahmoud
Heba S. Mohamed
author_facet Mohie E. Shoukry
Tarek I. Ebeido
Zaki I. Mahmoud
Heba S. Mohamed
author_sort Mohie E. Shoukry
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents results obtained from a nonlinear finite element analysis of slab-on-girder reinforced concrete bridges. Nonlinearity included: concrete cracking, behavior of concrete in compression, and reinforcement yield. Twenty-seven bridges were analyzed under truck loads based on the Egyptian Code (ECP 201–2017) and the self-weight of the bridge structural elements. This study included three groups: Group 1 with variable spans (L = 15 m, 20 m, and 24 m) and widths (W = 7 m, 10.5 m, and 14 m) to investigate the effect of the aspect ratio. Group 2 bridges with variable spans and girder spacing (S = 2.1 m, 2.625 m, and 3.5 m), while keeping the width constant at W = 10.5 m. Group 3 is similar to Group 1 but introduces one intermediate diaphragm placed at the bridge mid-span, in addition to two diaphragms located at the supports. The finite element model was calibrated using field tests found in the literature. Based on the parametric study, it was found that the presence of intermediate diaphragms, significantly enhances the transverse load distribution, thus reducing the bending moment on the longitudinal girders. The degree of enhancement increases as the bridge width increases. The Egyptian Code lacks an equation for the moment distribution factor, so an empirical equation was proposed to predict the moment distribution factors for the interior girder of slab-on-girder bridges under ECP truck loads.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1110-0168
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Alexandria Engineering Journal
spelling doaj-art-4bbc0f5733004a6ebd6295106b41a8402025-08-20T03:45:27ZengElsevierAlexandria Engineering Journal1110-01682025-06-0112442243410.1016/j.aej.2025.03.080Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete slab-on-girder bridges with and without intermediate diaphragmsMohie E. Shoukry0Tarek I. Ebeido1Zaki I. Mahmoud2Heba S. Mohamed3Faculty of Engineering Alexandria University, EgyptFaculty of Engineering Alexandria University, EgyptFaculty of Engineering Alexandria University, EgyptGraduate student of Engineering Alexandria University, Egypt; Corresponding author.This paper presents results obtained from a nonlinear finite element analysis of slab-on-girder reinforced concrete bridges. Nonlinearity included: concrete cracking, behavior of concrete in compression, and reinforcement yield. Twenty-seven bridges were analyzed under truck loads based on the Egyptian Code (ECP 201–2017) and the self-weight of the bridge structural elements. This study included three groups: Group 1 with variable spans (L = 15 m, 20 m, and 24 m) and widths (W = 7 m, 10.5 m, and 14 m) to investigate the effect of the aspect ratio. Group 2 bridges with variable spans and girder spacing (S = 2.1 m, 2.625 m, and 3.5 m), while keeping the width constant at W = 10.5 m. Group 3 is similar to Group 1 but introduces one intermediate diaphragm placed at the bridge mid-span, in addition to two diaphragms located at the supports. The finite element model was calibrated using field tests found in the literature. Based on the parametric study, it was found that the presence of intermediate diaphragms, significantly enhances the transverse load distribution, thus reducing the bending moment on the longitudinal girders. The degree of enhancement increases as the bridge width increases. The Egyptian Code lacks an equation for the moment distribution factor, so an empirical equation was proposed to predict the moment distribution factors for the interior girder of slab-on-girder bridges under ECP truck loads.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016825003886Reinforced concrete bridgesInelastic analysis of RC bridgeIntermediate diaphragm in bridgesBridge aspect ratio of bridgeEgyptian load truck loading
spellingShingle Mohie E. Shoukry
Tarek I. Ebeido
Zaki I. Mahmoud
Heba S. Mohamed
Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete slab-on-girder bridges with and without intermediate diaphragms
Alexandria Engineering Journal
Reinforced concrete bridges
Inelastic analysis of RC bridge
Intermediate diaphragm in bridges
Bridge aspect ratio of bridge
Egyptian load truck loading
title Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete slab-on-girder bridges with and without intermediate diaphragms
title_full Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete slab-on-girder bridges with and without intermediate diaphragms
title_fullStr Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete slab-on-girder bridges with and without intermediate diaphragms
title_full_unstemmed Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete slab-on-girder bridges with and without intermediate diaphragms
title_short Nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete slab-on-girder bridges with and without intermediate diaphragms
title_sort nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete slab on girder bridges with and without intermediate diaphragms
topic Reinforced concrete bridges
Inelastic analysis of RC bridge
Intermediate diaphragm in bridges
Bridge aspect ratio of bridge
Egyptian load truck loading
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016825003886
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AT tarekiebeido nonlinearanalysisofreinforcedconcreteslabongirderbridgeswithandwithoutintermediatediaphragms
AT zakiimahmoud nonlinearanalysisofreinforcedconcreteslabongirderbridgeswithandwithoutintermediatediaphragms
AT hebasmohamed nonlinearanalysisofreinforcedconcreteslabongirderbridgeswithandwithoutintermediatediaphragms