See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/330798041

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS OF A RCC T-GIRDER

BRIDGE USING LOADING PATTERN FROM DIFFERENT CODES

Article · February 2019

CITATIONS READS

0 139

1 author:

Sulav Sigdel
Tribhuvan University
1 PUBLICATION   0 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Sulav Sigdel on 01 February 2019.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS OF A RCC T-GIRDER
BRIDGE USING LOADING PATTERN FROM DIFFERENT CODES
Sulav Sigdel
B.E. Student, Civil Engineering Department
Tribhuvan University, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Nepal
2019
ABSTRACT
Nepal is an under-developed country; it is on the threshold of becoming a developing country. With
new Highways and Railroads Projects being launched, naturally, there will be heavy invest on new
bridges. This will not only improve connectivity across the country but also provide support to the
overall economic growth of the country. While designing a bridge, concrete properties, reinforcement
properties, superstructure and substructure sections, traffic movements and loading conditions should
be specified. Bridges in Nepal are designed on the basis of criteria enumerated by Indian Road
Congress(IRC) code provisions. But, worldwide, different countries have their own codal provisions.
Although these provisions follow the same rudimentary principles, there codes yield different results. A
study on variation of various structural parameters is thus very important while selecting the codal
provision, which is to be used while designing and analyzing the bridge. T-girder bridges are designed
for small and medium span bridges. In this paper, the T-beam bridge is modeled and analyzed by
introducing loading patterns from IRC Codal Provision, AASHTO Codal Provision, and Chinese Codal
Provision. The investigation is carefully done using CSI Bridge computer software and results are
compared.
Keywords: Structural Parameters, IRC loadings, AASHTO loadings, Chinese loadings, T-girder
bridge
1. INTRODUCTION
There are many codes used around the world and they differ depending upon their surrounding
environment and topological factors. India has Indian Road Congress(IRC) codal provisions, while
bridges in the United States are designed following American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO). AASHTO codal provision is accepted by many countries around
the world. European countries use the Euro Code where Chine uses their own Chinese codal provisions
for bridge design. Here in Nepal, IRC codal provisions are followed mostly but AASHTO codal
provisions are also considered sometimes. Hence it is necessary to do a thorough analysis of comparison
of the results with different codes. One code may focus entirely on ensuring safety while serviceability
requirement might not have been satisfied. In this study, a T-girder bridge is selected and it will be
analyzed for loading conditions from different codal provisions.
1. Chinese Code
2. Indian Road Congress(IRC code)
3. AASHTO Bridge Codal Provision
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Gautam Mukti(2000) [1], studied loading standards of different countries. The author used light,
medium and heavy traffic loading conditions with span varying from 15 metes to 40 meters in single
and double lane traffic. In his work, the author found bridges designed using IRC loadings give almost
double load bearing capacity that AASTHO loading HS20-44.

1
 Sulav Sigdel

Bhat Surya Bahadur(2004) [2], had studied traffic condition in Nepal and developed highway bridge
loading for Nepalese bridges. This study is a major aid to Nepal as Nepal do not have its own bridge
loading standard.
Buckland P.G., R.G Sexsmith(2011) [3] studied load effects for four bridge design live models over a
broad span range for three simper influence line-shaped. The models are American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) HS20, Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code
(OHBDC), Canadian National Standard CAN3-S6-M78 MS250, and one from the American Society
of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Buckle I.G. (1996) [5], had overviewed seismic design methods for bridges in different countries. The
philosophy and design procedures for the seismic design of highway bridges are compared in Europe,
Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.
Pokharel Mahesh(2013) [6], had designed RCC T-girder bridge using different codes; IRC, AASHTO,
Nepal Standard, and Euro code. The author claimed a conclusion that Euro code gives most conservative
design. It can be made useful for the case of Nepal by selecting a suitable factor(nationally determined
parameters).
3. MODELING
The modeling of a bridge was carried out by CSI Bridge computer software. The bridge basic
considerations are mentioned below.
Table 1 Basic Considerations

Basic Considerations Data

Span Length 20m
Number of Spans 2
Number of T-Beams 2
Thickness of slab 200mm
Depth of deck 2m
Grade of Concrete M25
Grade of Reinforcement HYSD500

Figure 1 Bridge deck section

2
 Sulav Sigdel

The models of T-beam before and after analysis is shown below.

Figure 2 Bridge model before loading

Figure 3 Bridge model after loading

Loading patterns used in the study are tabulated below.
Table 2 Loading Patterns

Code Vehicle Type

Indian Standard IRC Wheeled
AASHTO HSn-44
Chinese Standard Chinese Truck(JTG 2015)

3
 Sulav Sigdel

4. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

Axial force, shear force, bending moment, vertical displacement and longitudinal displacement are
obtained for all loading patterns mentioned in Table 2.
Table 3 Structural Parameters Obtained for different vehicle type

Axial Shear Bending Vertical Longitudinal

Vehicle Type Force(KN) Force(KN) Moment(KNm) Displacement(m) Displacement(m)
Max Max Max Max Max
IRC Wheeled 1496.283 700.44 9014.863 0.032406 0.003509
HSn-
44(AASHTO) 1140.189 459.628 6783.887 0.023844 0.002574
Chinese Truck 1272.4 550 7625.1 0.026283 0.002854

5.0 COMPARISON
The comparison of axial force, shear force, bending moment, vertical displacement and longitudinal
displacement has been presented in Figures 4,5,6,7 and 8 respectively.
Figure 4 Axial Force Figure 5 Shear Force

1600 800
1496.283
700.44
1400 700
1272.4
1140.189 600 550
1200
500 459.628
1000
400
800
300
600
200
400
100
200
0
0
IRC Wheeled HSn-44(AASHTO) Chinese Truck
IRC Wheeled HSn-44(AASHTO) Chinese Truck

Figure 6 Bending Moment Figure 7 Vertical Displacement

10000
9014.863 0.035 0.032406
9000
7625.1 0.03
8000 0.026283
6783.887 0.023844
7000 0.025
6000
0.02
5000
0.015
4000
3000 0.01
2000
0.005
1000
0
0
IRC Wheeled HSn-44(AASHTO) Chinese Truck
IRC Wheeled HSn-44(AASHTO) Chinese Truck

4
 Sulav Sigdel

Figure 8 Longitudinal Displacement

0.004
0.003509
0.0035

0.003 0.002854
0.002574
0.0025

0.002

0.0015

0.001

0.0005

0
IRC Wheeled HSn-44(AASHTO) Chinese Truck

6.0 CONCLUSIONS
Based on the analysis and results, the following conclusions can be drawn.

 The values of axial force decrease by about 24% when IRC loading(IRC Wheeled) is replaced
by AASHTO loading(HSn-44).
 The values of axial force decrease by about 15% when IRC loading(IRC Wheeled) is changed
by Chinese loading(Chinese truck).
 However, it is observed that the values of shear force decrease by about 35% when IRC
loading(IRC Wheeled) is replaced by AASHTO loading(HSn-44).
 There is a decrease of shear force by about 21% when IRC loading(IRC Wheeled) is ousted
by Chinese loading(Chinese truck).
 When IRC loading(IRC Wheeled) is replaced by AASHTO loading(HSn-44), the values of
bending moment decreases by about 25%.
 The values of bending moment decrease by about 16% when IRC loading(IRC Wheeled) is
replaced by Chinese loading(Chinese truck).
 The values of vertical displacement decrease by about 26% when IRC loading(IRC Wheeled)
is reinstated by AASHTO loading(HSn-44).
 The values of vertical displacement decrease by about 19% when IRC loading(IRC Wheeled)
is replaced by Chinese loading(Chinese truck).
 If IRC loading(IRC Wheeled) is replaced by AASHTO loading(HSn-44), there is a decrease
in longitudinal displacement by 27%.
 There is a decrease in longitudinal displacement by 19% when IRC loading(IRC Wheeled) is
replaced by Chinese loading(Chinese truck).
REFERENCES
[1] Gautam M. (2000), “Bridge Loadings of different countries and in the context of
Nepal”. Final thesis report, In the partial fulfillment of the requirements of the
the degree of Master of Science in Structural Engineering, IOE, Pulchowk Campus,
Nepal.
[2] Bhat S.B.(2004), “ Development of Highway Bridge loading for Nepal” Final
thesis report, In the partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master
of Science in Structural Engineering, IOE, Pulchowk Campus, Nepal.

5
 Sulav Sigdel

[3] P.G. Buckland and R.G. Sexsmith (1980), “A comparison of design loads for
highway bridges”, Buckland and Taylor Ltd, North Vancouver, B.C, Canada V7P
2Y4
[4] Buckle I.G. (1996), “ Overview of Seismic design methods for bridges in different
countries and future directions”, Department of Civil Engineering and National
center for Earthquake Engineering Research, the State University of New York at
Buffalo, New York, United States of America 14261.
[5] Pokharel M(2013), "Comparative Study of RCC T-Girder Bridge With Different Codes",
Final thesis report, In the partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of
Science in Structural Engineering, IOE, Pulchowk Campus, Nepal.
[6] IS 456:2000, "Code of Practice For Plain and Reinforced Concrete", Bureau of Indian
Standards, New Delhi.
[7] AASHTO(2010), "AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications", 5th Edition, American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington DC
[8] GB 50011(2010), "Code for Design of Concrete Structures", National Standard of the
People's Republic of China, Beijing.

View publication stats