Effects of connection flexibility in bridge girders under moving loads

This paper looks at the problem of connection flexibility in steel-concrete bridge girders under moving loads. The static action of the load changing location on the structure is considered. An analytical model of the girder is used assuming strain discontinuity at the steel-concrete interface as a result of beam-plate partial interaction. The effects of a flexible connection are characterized by the proposed index defined on the basis of the internal forces in the girder. This index can be calculated during loading tests on the basis of the neutral axis position at the section of the girder considered. Numerical analyses show that values of the index characterizing beam-plate interaction depend on the position of the load on the structure and the function describing connection stiffness.