Innovations in

Tied Arch Bridges Why are tied arches important?

R. Shankar Nair
Chicago

Nair 2

Typical span ranges for various long-span bridge types… Typical span ranges for various long-span bridge types…

Ø Composite steel girders < 500’ Ø Composite steel girders < 500’
Ø Segmental concrete box < 600’ Ø Segmental concrete box < 600’
Ø Steel through truss 300’ – 600’ Ø Steel through truss 300’ – 600’
Ø Steel tied arch 400’ – 1000’ Ø Steel tied arch 400’ – 1000’
Ø Cable stayed 600’ – 2000’ Ø Cable stayed 600’ – 2000’
Ø Suspension > 1500’ Ø Suspension > 1500’

There are other

options in the tied-arch
span range

Nair 3 Nair 4

Typical span ranges for various long-span bridge types… Typical span ranges for various long-span bridge types…

Ø Composite steel girders < 500’ Ø Composite steel girders < 500’
Ø Segmental concrete box < 600’ Ø Segmental concrete box < 600’
Ø Steel through truss 300’ – 600’ Ø Steel through truss 300’ – 600’
Ø Steel tied arch 400’ – 1000’ Ø Steel tied arch 400’ – 1000’
Ø Cable stayed 600’ – 2000’ Ø Cable stayed 600’ – 2000’
Ø Suspension > 1500’ Ø Suspension > 1500’

Only the tied arch is ideally suited to a single-span layout Only the tied arch is ideally suited to a single-span layout

Many water crossings require only one long navigational span

Nair 5 Nair 6
Typical span ranges for various long-span bridge types…

Ø Composite steel girders < 500’

Ø Segmental concrete box < 600’
Ø Steel through truss 300’ – 600’
Ø
Ø
Steel tied arch
Cable stayed
400’ – 1000’
600’ – 2000’
What is an arch?
Ø Suspension > 1500’

Only the tied arch is ideally suited to a single-span layout

A common river-crossing configuration:

Ø One tied arch span of 500’-900’
Ø Composite steel approach spans of 150’-250’

Nair 7 Nair 8

Justice Potter Stewart

Member of Supreme Court 1958-1981

“I know it when I see it”

Nair 9 Nair 10

I know an arch when I see it What is an arch?

Gravity Load

Compressive
Stresses in
Structure

Nair 11 Nair 12
 ARCH “TRUE”
or
“THRUST”
ARCH
No flexure due
to uniform load Thrust at ends
resisted by foundation

Nair 13 Nair 14

“TRUE” “TRUE”
or or
“THRUST” “THRUST”
ARCH ARCH
Thrust at ends Thrust at ends
resisted by foundation resisted by foundation
Convenient between “natural” abutments

TIED TIED
ARCH ARCH

Horiz component of thrust at Horiz component of thrust at

ends resisted by tie ends resisted by tie
Typically much simpler for river crossings
Nair 15 Nair 16

TIED TIED
ARCH RIB
ARCH ARCH

HANGERS

TIE
Horiz component of thrust at
ends resisted by tie

Nair 17 Nair 18
 DECK

TIED TIED
ARCH ARCH

DECK DECK

Nair 19 Nair 20

HYBRID
TIED ARCH

CANTILEVER TIED ARCH CANTILEVER

DECK

TIED TIED ARCH

ARCH

DECK

Nair 21 Nair 22

HYBRID HYBRID
TIED TIED
ARCH ARCH

DECK DECK

NAVIGATIONAL
CLEARANCE

Ø Same span & Ø Same span &

same overall same overall
TIED arch size TIED arch size
ARCH Ø Same height ARCH Ø Same height
of deck above of deck above
DECK water DECK water

NAVIGATIONAL
CLEARANCE

Nair 23 Nair 24
HYBRID HYBRID
TIED TIED
ARCH ARCH

DECK DECK
X X X NAVIGATIONAL
X X X
CLEARANCE

Ø Same span &

same overall
TIED arch size TIED
ARCH Ø Same height ARCH
of deck above
DECK water DECK

NAVIGATIONAL
CLEARANCE

Nair 25 Nair 26

Little flexure or deflection

due to uniform load

TIED TIED
ARCH ARCH

DECK

Nair 27 Nair 28

Flexure & deflection due Flexure & deflection due

to non-uniform load to non-uniform load
Resisted by flexural
stiffness of rib and/or tie
TIED TIED
ARCH ARCH

Nair 29 Nair 30
 Most recent large tied-arch
bridges have used the tie
girders as the main stiffening
elements
Ribs just stiff enough to resist
buckling

Nair 31 Nair 32

Or by
“network”
Flexure & deflection due hangers Flexure & deflection due
to non-uniform load to non-uniform load
Resisted by flexural Resisted by flexural
stiffness of rib and/or tie stiffness of rib and/or tie

Nair 33 Nair 34

Network hangers make the tied arch
behave almost like a truss, with the
rib and tie as the truss chords
Network hangers make the tied arch
behave almost like a truss, with the
rib and tie as the truss chords
Network hangers can also improve
redundancy

Nair 35 Nair 36
NETWORK HANGERS VERTICAL HANGERS VERTICAL HANGERS
Loss of one Loss of one Loss of one
hanger does not hanger doubles hanger doubles
increase unsupported unsupported
unsupported length of rib and length of rib and
length of rib or tie tie tie

Nair 37 Nair 38

Consider the Consider the

effect of loss of effect of loss of
one hanger… one hanger…

X
Unsupported tie is
usually not a problem.

Nair 39 Nair 40

Consider the Consider the

effect of loss of effect of loss of
one hanger… one hanger…

Unsupported rib
can be a problem

Unsupported tie is Unsupported tie is

usually not a problem. usually not a problem.
Tie girder can transfer deck Tie girder can transfer deck
load to intact hanger. load to intact hanger.
Nair 41 Nair 42
Arch rib is
curved
Consider the Consider the
effect of loss of effect of loss of
one hanger… one hanger…
Thrust line Offset, e,
is straight causes
between flexure in rib
hangers

Nair 43 Nair 44

EXAMPLE
Arch with
span=600’; rise=120’
Consider the
effect of loss of
one hanger…
Offset, e, Offset, e,
causes causes
flexure in rib flexure in rib
Doubling the hanger Doubling the hanger
spacing increases the spacing increases the
offset four-fold offset four-fold

Nair 45 Nair 46

EXAMPLE EXAMPLE
Arch with Arch with
span=600’; rise=120’ span=600’; rise=120’
Hanger Offset Hanger Offset
Spacing e Spacing e
Offset, e, Offset, e,
causes 45’ 0.675’ causes 45’ 0.675’
flexure in rib flexure in rib 90’ 2.70’
Doubling the hanger Doubling the hanger
spacing increases the spacing increases the
offset four-fold offset four-fold

Nair 47 Nair 48
 EXAMPLE
Arch with
span=600’; rise=120’ If a hanger is lost…

Hanger Offset
Spacing e
Offset, e,
causes 45’ 0.675’
flexure in rib 90’ 2.70’
Doubling the hanger
spacing increases the May cause
offset four-fold failure of rib

Nair 49 Nair 50

If a hanger is lost… If a hanger is lost…

Ø The most likely failure mode is not Ø The most likely failure mode is not
downward collapse of the tie and deck downward collapse of the tie and deck
Ø It is upward failure of the arch rib

X X
This is
unlikely

Nair 51 Nair 52

If a hanger is lost… If a hanger is lost…

Ø The most likely failure mode is not Ø The most likely failure mode is not
downward collapse of the tie and deck downward collapse of the tie and deck
Ø It is upward failure of the arch rib Ø It is upward failure of the arch rib

In a network arch… In a network arch…

Ø The rib will not lose support from loss Ø The rib will not lose support from loss
of single hanger of single hanger

Even loss of all cables at

a single deck location
will not cause the rib to
lose support
Nair 53 Nair 54
 Now let’s focus on two
There are genuine benefits to the network real bridges…
arch concept, but vertical hangers remain
the default solution

Nair 55 Nair 56

Jefferson Barracks
I-255 / Mississippi Arch
St Louis rib
Vierendeel strut

Hanger

Concrete deck*
on steel stringers*
Tie girder

Floor beam
Diagonal bracing
Twin Bridges
909’ span *Expansion joints in the deck and stringers uncouple
them from the arch structure
Nair 57 Nair 58

Arch Arch
rib rib
Vierendeel strut Other bridges useVierendeel
box-section
strut
tie girders; primarily because
they are considered better for
Hanger torsion Hanger

Concrete deck* Concrete deck*

on steel stringers* on steel stringers*
Tie girder Tie girder

Floor beam Floor beam

Diagonal bracing Diagonal bracing

*Expansion joints in the deck and stringers uncouple *Expansion joints in the deck and stringers uncouple
them from the arch structure them from the arch structure
Nair 59 Nair 60
 Arch Arch
rib rib
Vierendeel strut Vierendeel strut

Overall torsional Bridges get their overall

Hanger
stiffness is important torsional stability not like this…Hanger
Concrete deck* Concrete deck*
on steel stringers* on steel stringers*
Tie girder Tie girder

Floor beam Floor beam

Diagonal bracing Diagonal bracing

*Expansion joints in the deck and stringers uncouple *Expansion joints in the deck and stringers uncouple
them from the arch structure them from the arch structure
Nair 61 Nair 62

Arch Arch
rib rib
Vierendeel strut Essentially no loss of overall
Vierendeel strut
torsional stiffness due to switch
from box-section to I-section ties
…but like this Hanger of the same vertical stiffness Hanger

Concrete deck* Concrete deck*

on steel stringers* on steel stringers*
Tie girder Tie girder

Floor beam Floor beam

Diagonal bracing Diagonal bracing

*Expansion joints in the deck and stringers uncouple *Expansion joints in the deck and stringers uncouple
them from the arch structure them from the arch structure
Nair 63 Nair 64

I-Section Tie Girders

Arch Benefits —
There are important
Vierendeel strut benefits torib Ø Much more economical to
the I section build and maintain

Hanger

Concrete deck*
on steel stringers*
Tie girder

Floor beam
Diagonal bracing

*Expansion joints in the deck and stringers uncouple

them from the arch structure
Nair 65 Nair 66
I-Section Tie Girders I-Section Tie Girders
Benefits — Benefits —
Ø Much more economical to Ø Much more economical to
build and maintain build and maintain
§ Slightly less steel § Slightly less steel
§ Much lower fabrication § Much lower fabrication
cost cost
§ Simpler connections § Simpler connections
§ Much easier inspection § Much easier inspection
Ø Avoids secondary stress
issues at floor beam
connections

Nair 67 Nair 68

I-Section Tie Girders Tie girder torsionally I-Section Tie Girders Tie girder torsionally
Benefits — stiff Benefits — stiff
High end moment High end moment
Ø Much more economical to due to FB deflection Ø Much more economical to due to FB deflection
build and maintain build and maintain
§ Slightly less steel § Slightly less steel
§ Much lower fabrication § Much lower fabrication
cost cost
§ Simpler connections § Simpler connections
Tie girder torsionally
§ Much easier inspection § Much easier inspection flexible
Little end moment
Ø Avoids secondary stress Ø Avoids secondary stress due to FB deflection
issues at floor beam issues at floor beam
connections connections

Nair 69 Nair 70

“Typical” knuckle
connection

Rib-Tie
“Knuckle” box tie
Side plates in
same plane

Nair 71
 “Typical” knuckle “Typical” knuckle
connection connection

box tie box tie

Side plates in Side plates in
same plane same plane;
sometimes a
… requires rib and tie of single plate
same width, usually not
optimum

“Typical” knuckle “Typical” knuckle

connection connection

box tie box tie

Side plates in Troublesome
same plane; welds & stress
sometimes a concentrations
single plate;
may add
internal plates

Rib-Tie
CL Tie
Knuckle with
I-Section Tie
Floor
beam

TIE-RIB “KNUCKLE”
CONNECTION
Nair 77 Nair 78
 All forces between
rib and tie are
transferred by in-
plane loading of
plates through fillet
Cables
welds
Floor
beam
CL Tie CL Tie

Floor Floor
beam beam
TYPICAL FLOOR BEAM
AND HANGER
CONNECTIONS
TO TIE
TIE-RIB “KNUCKLE” TIE-RIB “KNUCKLE”
CONNECTION CONNECTION
Nair 79 Nair 80

Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges — Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges —

Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that
tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability. tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability.
The reason given was that 2nd-order effects in the rib
and tie counteracted each other.

Nair 81 Nair 82

Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges — Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges —

Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that
tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability. tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability.
The reason given was that 2nd-order effects in the rib The reason given was that 2nd-order effects in the rib
and tie counteracted each other. and tie counteracted each other.
The horizontal components The horizontal components
of rib compression and tie of rib compression and tie
tension are equal. tension are equal.
Vertical displacements of
rib and tie are equal
(because of the hangers).

Nair 83 Nair 84
Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges —
Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that
tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability.
The reason given was that 2nd-order effects in the rib
and tie counteracted each other.
The horizontal components
of rib compression and tie
tension are equal.
Vertical displacements of
rib and tie are equal
(because of the hangers).
The disturbing effect of rib
displacement is balanced
by the restoring effect of tie
displacement.
Nair 85
Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges —
Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that
tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability.
The reason given was that 2nd-order effects in the rib
and tie counteracted each other.
The horizontal components
of rib compression and tie
tension are equal.
Vertical displacements of
rib and tie are equal
(because of the hangers).
?
And therefore, in-plane
instability is not an issue.
The disturbing effect of rib
displacement is balanced
by the restoring effect of tie
displacement.
Nair 87
Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges —
Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that
tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability.
The reason given was that 2nd-order effects in the rib
and tie counteracted each other.
Lateral stability of the arch ribs was recognized as an
issue, but 2nd-order analysis to account for it was
considered to be beyond the level of technology
available to bridge engineers.
Nair 89
Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges —
Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that
tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability.
The reason given was that 2nd-order effects in the rib
and tie counteracted each other.
The horizontal components
of rib compression and tie
tension are equal.
Vertical displacements of
rib and tie are equal
(because of the hangers).
The disturbing effect of rib
displacement is balanced
And therefore, in-plane by the restoring effect of tie
instability is not an issue. displacement.
Nair 86
Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges —
Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that
tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability.
The reason given was that 2nd-order effects in the rib
and tie counteracted each other.
Disproved in two papers:
Ø “Buckling and Vibration of Arches
and Tied Arches” by R.S. Nair,
Journal of Structural Engineering,
ASCE, June 1986
?
And therefore, in-plane
instability is not an issue.
Ø “Practical Application of Energy
Methods to Stability Problems” by
R.S. Nair, Engineering Journal,
AISC, 4th Qtr. 1997
Nair 88
Stability Design of Tied-Arch Bridges —
Textbooks and AASHTO stated at the time (1980) that
tied arches were not susceptible to in-plane instability.
The reason given was that 2nd-order effects in the rib
and tie counteracted each other.
Lateral stability of the arch ribs was recognized as an
issue, but 2nd-order analysis to account for it was
considered to be beyond the level of technology
available to bridge engineers.
The “two-percent rule” was often used for the design of
bridge bracing, including bracing between arch ribs.
Nair 90
The “two-percent rule” — The “two-percent rule” —

•P •P •P •P

Design for shear of 2% of • P Design for shear of 2% of • P

across every panel of across every panel of
bracing bracing
This is broadly similar to the
“relative bracing” (2010) or
“panel bracing” (2016) provisions
of AISC 360

Nair 91 Nair 92

The “two-percent rule” — The “two-percent rule” —

•P •P •P •P

Design for shear of 2% of • P Design for shear of 2% of • P

across every panel of across every panel of
bracing bracing

This approach was not used Instead, used 2nd-order analysis

for the JB Bridge and a primitive form of today’s
Direct Analysis Method
Nair 93 Nair 94

Abraham Lincoln Bridge

Much less bracing than in

other bridges of that time

Nair 95
 Abraham Lincoln Bridge Abraham Lincoln Bridge

Likely bracing design Likely bracing design

concept: the “2% rule” concept: the “2% rule”

Note low
clearance

Jefferson Barracks Bridges FABRICATION

A special technique was

used to reduce flexure in
the ribs and ties
Note high
clearance

Nair 100

Fabrication Fabrication
Cambered geometry* Cambered geometry*
Cambered Fabricate to this shape Cambered Fabricate to this shape
fabrication & Final geometry fabrication & Final geometry
assembly — (loaded) assembly — (loaded)
•DL
*Final geometry *Final geometry
minus all DL minus all DL
displacements Dead load causes shortening of the displacements
rib and elongation of the tie; this
produces downward deflection.

Nair 101 Nair 102

Fabrication Fabrication
Cambered geometry* Cambered geometry*
Cambered Fabricate to this shape Cambered Fabricate to this shape
fabrication & Final geometry fabrication & Final geometry
assembly — (loaded) assembly — (loaded)

*Final geometry *Final geometry

minus all DL minus all DL
Dead load causes shortening of the displacements Dead load causes shortening of the displacements
rib and elongation of the tie; this rib and elongation of the tie; this
produces downward deflection. produces downward deflection.

As a secondary effect, the deflection As a secondary effect, the deflection

produces flexure in the rib and tie. produces flexure in the rib and tie.

This secondary flexure can be eliminated

by fabrication for “prestressed” assembly.
Nair 103 Nair 104

Fabrication Fabrication

“Prestressed” Fabricate to this shape* “Prestressed” Fabricate to this shape*

assembly — assembly —

Final geometry Final geometry

(loaded) (loaded)

Gap in tie in unstressed

condition
*Same shape as
final, but rib longer
and tie shorter to
compensate for
length changes
under load

Nair 105 Nair 106

Fabrication Fabrication

“Prestressed” Fabricate to this shape “Prestressed” Fabricate to this shape

assembly — assembly —
Assembled shape Assembled shape
Final geometry Final geometry
(loaded) (loaded)

Gap in tie in unstressed Gap in tie in unstressed

condition condition
“Prestress” to assemble “Prestress” to assemble
…forcing it into the
“assembled shape” shown This induces moments opposite
those that will be caused by
dead load deflection

Nair 107 Nair 108

Fabrication Fabrication

“Prestressed” Fabricate to this shape “Prestressed” Fabricate to this shape

assembly — assembly —
Assembled shape Assembled shape
Final geometry Final geometry
(loaded) (loaded)

Gap in tie in unstressed Gap in tie in unstressed

condition condition This procedure,
the fabrication
“Prestress” to assemble “Prestress” to assemble dimensions and
This induces moments opposite This induces moments opposite the forces at
those that will be caused by those that will be caused by each stage were
dead load deflection dead load deflection
indicated in the
DL deflection relieves those DL deflection relieves those drawings
induced moments induced moments
Nair 109 Nair 110

The innovations discussed… The innovations discussed…

Ø I-section tie girders Ø I-section tie girders
Ø Simple rib-tie knuckle connection Ø Simple rib-tie knuckle connection
Ø DAM for economy and to reduce bracing Ø DAM for economy and to reduce bracing
Ø Fabrication for prestressed erection Ø Fabrication for prestressed erection

Are all incorporated and refined in the design of

Ø IL-104 Bridge over Illinois River in Meredosia
… now in late stages of construction

Nair 111 Nair 112

IL-104 Bridge on 8/22/2017

The innovations discussed…

Ø I-section tie girders
Ø Simple rib-tie knuckle connection
Ø DAM for economy and to reduce bracing
Ø Fabrication for prestressed erection

Are all incorporated and refined in the design of

Ø IL-104 Bridge over Illinois River in Meredosia
… now in late stages of construction

Modern DAM allowed fewer struts that in JB

Bridge; no struts at hanger locations

Nair 113 Nair 114

 IL-104 Bridge on 8/22/2017

Nair 115 Nair 116

Rib-tie
knuckle Most recent large tied-arch
of IL-104 bridges have used tie girders
Bridge as the main stiffening
elements
Ribs just stiff enough to resist
buckling

Nair 117 Nair 118

The stiff tie approach was adopted at

Jefferson Barracks partly to ease
construction…

Nair 119 Nair 120

The stiff tie approach was adopted at Jefferson
Barracks partly to ease construction…
Same stiff tie approach was adopted for IL-104
at Meredosia
The stiff tie approach was adopted at Jefferson
Barracks partly to ease construction…
Same stiff tie approach was adopted for IL-104
at Meredosia
But IL-104 was erected from above using
erection towers

Nair 121 Nair 122

The stiff tie approach was adopted at Jefferson

Barracks partly to ease construction…
Same stiff tie approach was used for Beardstown
(US-67) and Meredosia (IL-104)
But IL-104 was erected from above using erection
towers
… which would have permitted a big-rib, small-tie
design

Nair 123 Nair 124

The ultimate big-rib, small-tie design is a The ultimate big-rib, small-tie design is a
cable tie cable tie
… as in EXP’s proposal for Division Street

Cables Cables
Nair 125 Nair 126
 Cables

Cables
Cylindrical end
floor beam

Nair 127 Nair 128

Standard IDOT
“semi-integral”
abutment
BEARING

Nair 129 Nair 130

BEARING

Questions?
Simple, economical, redundant,
not fracture-critical

Nair 131
Questions?
shankar.nair@exp.com