Stability Considerations for the

Construction of Steel I-Girder

Bridges using the Incremental
Launching Method
Maria Emilia Ponton, Andres Robalino
ADSTREN Engineering
Telmo Andres Sanchez
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Annual Stability Conference
Structural Stability Research Council
Orlando, April 12, 2016
 Presentation Outline

• Introduction
• Case Study Description
• AASHTO Strength Checks
• Global Buckling of Two Girder System
• Conclusions
• Future Work
2
 Introduction
• The incremental launching method (ILM) is used to cross over
an obstacle with minimal intervention from below
• The superstructure is assembled behind one abutment and
then, it is pushed forward
• When proper considerations are taken, the steel erection with
ILM can be safer, faster, and more cost-effective than other
methods
• However, the steel girders may be subject to high strength
demands
• How applicable are current AASHTO Specifications to study
bridges constructed with ILM? 3
 Case Study Description
• The Maresa Bridge has two superstructures in parallel,
composed of five and four steel I-girders
• The bridge is situated in Quito, Ecuador

4
 Case Study Description
Bridge Cross-Section:

5
 Case Study Description
Girder Dimensions:

6
 Case Study Description
Sequence of Launching Operations:

7
 Case Study Description
Sequence of Launching Operations:

8
 Case Study Description
Sequence of Launching Operations:

Structure in its final position 9

AASHTO Required Strength Checks
The AASHTO Bridge Design Specifications require checking the
following limit states for construction of steel I-girder bridges:
- Compression flange yielding f bu  f    f Rh Fyc
- Compression flange stability fbu  f  / 3   f Rh Fnc

- Web bend-buckling f bu   f Fcrw

- Tension flange yielding f bu  f    f Rh Fyt

- Web shear strength Vu  vVcr

- Maximum level of fl fl ≤ 0.6Fyf 10
AASHTO Required Strength Checks
When the girder webs do not have bearing stiffeners and are
subject to concentrated loads, the AASHTO Bridge Design
Specifications require checking two additional limit states:

- Web local yielding Ru  b Rny

- Web crippling Ru  b Rnc

All these limit states need to be considered when constructing a

bridge with ILM

11
 AASHTO Required Strength Checks
Finite element models (FEM) are developed in ABAQUS to study the
behavior of the Maresa Bridge and to compare to the results of the
AASHTO Specification requirements

Illustration of the deformed structure as predicted by the FEM

12
(stresses shown in MPa; deflections scaled by a x5 factor)
 AASHTO Required Strength Checks
400 400
350 350

300 300

250 250

MPa
MPa

200 200

150 150

100 100

50 50

0 0
35 40 45 50 55 60 65 35 40 45 50 55 60 65
x (m) x (m)

φf Fyc G1 (1.5DC) G1 (1.25DC+1.25WS) φf Fnc G1 (1.5DC) G1 (1.25DC+1.25WS)

Compression Flange Yielding Compression Flange Stability

13
 AASHTO Required Strength Checks
500 3500

3000 4.12
450 3.23 3.23
4.12 3.68 2.76
2.32 2500 1.94
2.76 2.32 1.95
400 2.86 2.86 2.47 1.45
3.68 2.09 2000 2.09 1.75
2.47 1.66

kN
MPa

350 1.94 1500 1.28

300 1.45 1000

1.95
1.66
1.28 500
250
1.71
0
200 35 40 45 50 55 60 65
35 40 45 50 55 60 65 x (m)
x (m) φb Rn - Web Local Yielding φw Rn - Web Crippiling

φf Fnc G1 γ(1.5DC) G1 γ(1.25DC+1.25WS) G1 γ(1.5DC) G1 γ(1.25DC+1.25WS)

Compression Flange Stability Concentrated Load

14
Global Buckling of Two Girder System

First buckling mode for the two girder system,

cantilever = 65m
15
 AASHTO Required Strength Checks
2.5

2.0

1.5
γ crt

1.0
E I yc J 2 I yc2 ho2  2 Ieff I x S 2
M gl  2Cb  
0.5 Lg 1.3 L2g 4 L2g

0.0
50 55 60 65 Yura et al. (2008)
x (m)

FEA - Two girder system (actual geometry) FEA - Two girder system (uniform section)

Eq. 1 - Two girder system Cb=1 Eq. 1 - Two girder system Cb>1

16
 Conclusions
• ILM is a method that may be implemented for the construction
of steel I-girder bridges
• I-girders are subject to a combination of high bending, high
shear, and concentrated loads
• Current AASHTO Bridge Design Specifications do not
necessarily capture the expected capacity of the girders at the
cantilever support
• Global buckling resistance may be evaluated by using the
methodology discussed in Yura et al (2008), with Cb = 1.0

17
 Future Work
• Investigate the correlation between bending, shear, and
concentrated loads
- There is substantial evidence that shows that M and
V are not necessarily correlated
- Eurocode 3 considers the M, V, P interaction

• Further studies on the applicability of global buckling strength

equation
- Eq. 1 was developed for simply supported beams
- Does it apply to other cases? (e.g., cantilever systems)

18
Questions?
20
21