7026EXQ – Bridge Engineering

Coventry University
School of Energy, Construction and Environment
MSc BRIDGE ENGINEERING MODULE

Design of Steel Composite Desk 2 - Example

Introduction:
This example is based on the lecture notes for steel composite bridge design 1

Brief:
To design a simply supported steel-concrete composite multi beam bridge. Span 37.5m,
width between parapets 19.81m. The bridge forms part of a slip road to a new motorway in
the midlands. Loads will be standard UK loads with 45 units of HB.

Girder Spacing
The bridge is 19.81m wide, other bridges on the scheme have a 1.25m cantilever overhang,
a similar overhang will be used giving 17.31m between girders. The girders will be lifted in
pairs in pairs for stability during the construction stage:

2 pairs (3 spaces) = 17.31/3 = 5.77m too large.

3 pairs (5 spaces) = 17.31/5 = 3.462m ok
4 pairs (7 spaces) = 17.31/7 = 2.473m ok

For the steelwork the wider spaced girder is likely to be the most economic. Thegirder
spacing is at the upper end of the range (figure 8) and there is heavymotorway traffic and so
a 225mm slab is used. The bridge arrangement is shown in figure E1.

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Figure E1 Layout for bridge used in the example.

Durability
Reinforced soil abutments are used on most bridges on the scheme, a semi integral type is
used with these rather than a fully integral bridge. This avoids the use of joints but requires
bearings at each end. The bridge is over a river, it is away from the coast and there are no
pollution issues. A weathering steel bridge is proposed with a 1.5mm allowance for corrosion
to exposed faces.

Loads and analysis

The analysis of the structure is carried out using a grillage analysis (figure E2) with stiff beam
elements longitudinally and flexible slab elements transversely (Note the transverse
elements are perpendicular to the beam reflecting the layout of the permanent formwork and
reinforcement).

Figure E2 Grillage analysis layout

Fabrication and construction methods

Fabrication of all the girders on this project was carried out by a major fabricator with
automatic cutting and welding plant and girder production used a T&I process. The steel
grade used is WR355. There is good motorway access between the fabrication shop and the
site. Girders up to 40m long can be transported.

From figure 20 the weight of steel is estimated to be 200 kg/m2 and so a pair of girders will
weigh:
(37.5 +1) x 19.81 x 200 / 3 = 50,085 kg or 50 tonnes.

This is well within the limits for lifting in by crane.

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7026EXQ – Bridge Engineering

Table E1 Results of grillage analysis for example

Girder depth
From table 3 span to depth ratios of 18 to 20 are recommended.
S/D = 18 = 37.5 / 18 = 2.08m.
Allowing for the deck slab a 1.78m deep web for the girder is chosen.

Web thickness and stiffeners

From table E1 the total shear at ULS near the support is 0.6 + 0.22 + 1.3 = 2.12 MN
Initially a shear stress approximately half the yield shear strength is assumed:

VR = l dw tw = 0.5 x 175 x 1.78 x tw = 2.12

Where l= 0.5 x y= 0.5 x 0.577y/m3= 0.5 x 175, (m3 is safety factor from BS, EC3 will be
different)

Hence, tw = 0.014m

Allowing additional thickness for corrosion a 1780 x 20mm web plate is used.
dw / tw = 1780 / (20-3) =105 this is well within the limits for webs in table 1

From figure 15 with d/t =105 and 1= 0.5y,  = a/dw = 2.5,

Hence stiffeners at approximately 2.5 x 1.78 = 4.375m centres

Use 200 x 20 stiffeners (hs / ts = 10 as table 1).

Main flange size

From table E1 the moment at ULS near mid span is: 5.7 + 1.9 + 10.5 = 18.1 MNm

MR = (Af1 + 0.16 Aw) z 300

z = 1.95m approx, Aw = 1.78x0.017=0.03m2

MR = (Af1 + 0.16 x 0.03) x 1.95 x 300 = 18.1

Af1 = 0.0261 m2

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7026EXQ – Bridge Engineering

Allowing for corrosion a 950 x 30mm flange is ok.

hf/ tf = (950-20)x0.5 / 30 = 15.5 this is within the limits for tension flanges in table 1

Secondary flange size

As a first estimate a secondary flange size Af2 = 0.6 Af1 can be used

Af2= 0.6 x 0.027 = 0.016 m2.

This is only required for construction and so no reduction for corrosion is required.

A 600 x 25mm top flange is ok.

hf/ tf = (600-20)x0.5 / 25 = 11.6

This is within the limits for slender compression flanges in table 1

Bracing layout
For bracing the maximum spacing is 20 times the top flange width (figure 8)

S1 = 20 x 0.6 = 12m

Use 5 bracing locations (2 at support and 3 intermediate), giving a spacing of 9.4m.

Note as the bridge has a skew but that the bracing will be perpendicular to the beams the
actual spacing will vary and may be up to 10m (see layout on figure E2). The web stiffeners
will be placed at bracing spacing, as the stiffener spacing required is less than 10m
intermediate stiffeners will be required.

Concrete slab size

b eff = the spacing of the girders or 0.2 times the span whichever is the smaller.
b eff = 3.46m

Ac = b eff hc = 3.46 x 0.225 = 0.778 m2

Ac should not be less than 10 Af1
10 Af1 = 10 x 0.027 = 0.27 m2 and so there is plenty of capacity in the concrete slab.

Verification of the design

Steelwork tonnage
6 x 39.5 x {(0.95x0.03)+(0.6x0.025)+(1.78x0.02)} x 7.85 x1.10 = 162 tonnes

Reference weight = (162 x 1000) / (40 x 19.81) = 204 kg/ m2.

This is as expected from figure 20.

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Figure E3

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Figure E4

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