BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE TIED ARCH

RAILWAY BRIDGES UNDER MOVING LOADS

Mohamed Elewa and Eslam Sayed Youssef
Al Azhar University-Egypt
INTRODUCTION
The demand for high speed trains has significantly been
increasing in recent years. Thus, dynamic analysis of
railway bridges is highly required under moving loads.

Tied-arch bridge represents an effective key of

medium span bridges, as it combines both structural
and aesthetic advantages.
However, for such bridges, under high speed trains,
the permissible train speed range and, therefore, the
dynamic effects may be much greater than those
considered in the past.
Paper number:39 2

First Author et al . Mohamed Elewa

INTRODUCTION
For this purpose, accurate investigation is needed to
precisely estimate the most im-portant parameters that
influence the dynamic effects of the bridge under
moving trains.
numerical analysis on the behavior of tied arch
bridges under moving loads was im-plemented in this
study.
The optimal span length of the bridge that suppresses
the response at resonance was also determined.

Paper number:39 3

First Author et al . Mohamed Elewa

Modeling
Three through tied arch bridges of 36, 50, and 60 m
span lengths, denoted as MB-1, MB-2, and MB-3,
were selected.
Three-dimensional finite element models were developed
by employing software program MIDAS Civil to evaluate
the dynamic response of the bridge. Damping was assumed
5%.

Paper number:39 4

First Author et al . Mohamed Elewa

 Modeling
3-D model scheme
for the bridges

In this study, ICE3 train is used to analyze the bridges. The

specified high-speed train composed of eight cars. The
weight of first and last motor cars is 160 kN and 146 kN for
the middle cars.
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First Author et al . Mohamed Elewa

 Results

Mode 1 Mode 2 Mode 3 Mode 4

fn =2.679 Hz fn =3.303 HZ fn =3.841 Hz fn =5.259 Hz

Eigenfrequencies
Bridge
Mode 1 (HZ) Mode 2 (HZ) Mode 3 (HZ) Mode 4 (HZ)

MB-2 1.338 1.990 2.260 3.614

MB-3 1.092 1.650 1.665 3.028

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First Author et al . Mohamed Elewa

 Results

Vertical displacement versus Train speed DAF versus Train speed (MB-1).
(MB-1).

Displacement histories at quarter point (0.75 L) Displacement histories at quarter point

at cancellation speed vcanI =143 Km/h (MB-1). (0.75 L) at cancellation speed vcan II =60
Km/h (MB-1).
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First Author et al . Mohamed Elewa

 Results
Effect of damping and number of coaches

Effect of Damping on the bridge response Effect of Number of Coach on the bridge
(MB-1). response (MB-1).

Optimal Span Length

Comparison between dynamic displacements

of MB-1, MB-2, and MB-3

Paper number:39 8

First Author et al . Mohamed Elewa

Conclusions
Based on this study, the conclusions are summarized as the followings:

The damping ratios of tied arch bridges has great impact on the maximum response
merely on the conditions of moving trains at the resonance speed.

Number of coaches crossing the bridge is a major factor that influence the bridge
dynamic response. The bridge response was successively amplified with
increasing the number of coaches

The minimum bridge response under moving train occurred when the span length
of a tied arch bridge is equal /or close to (2, 4, 6…) coach length.

Paper number:39 9

First Author et al . Mohamed Elewa

Author 10
BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE TIED ARCH RAILWAY
BRIDGES UNDER MOVING LOADS

Speaker:Mohamed Elewa
Email address: elewamoh@azhar.edu.eg

Author 11