Application of Partial Shear Connection in Steel-Concrete Semi-Continuous Composite Girder Bridges

In the hogging moment regions of steel-concrete composite continuous girder bridges, a detrimental condition appears such that concrete slab bears tensile stress and the steel girder bears compressive stress. Decreasing the shear connection in the hogging moment regions helps to improve the mechanical performance for steel-concrete continuous composite girder bridges. In this paper, analytical models for the calculation of composite girders considering partial shear connection (PSC) action are discussed. A project case of Qiwu Bridge in Jiangxi Province using partial shear connection action is introduced. A nonlinear finite element model of Qiwu Bridge is established through ABAQUS (R) to simulate and predict the mechanical properties and structural performance. Based on the finite element method results, the influence of PSC on various parameters is analysed by performing a parametric analysis. Numerical results show that arranging a partial shear connection region can effectively reduce the crack region and disperse areas having high stress concentration, but shear stiffness mutation can significantly increase the stress level at the edge of the partial shear connection region.

Automated summary

This paper discusses the analytical models for calculating composite girders with partial shear connection and introduces a project case using partial shear connection. A nonlinear finite element model is established to simulate the mechanical properties and structural performance. The influence of partial shear connection on various parameters is analyzed, showing that it can effectively reduce crack and stress concentration areas, but shear stiffness mutation increases stress at the edge of the shear connection region.