Examples of Finite Element Models of Steel Bridges - Finite Element Analysis and Design of Steel and Steel-Concrete Composite Bridges - page 575

0.3P 0.7P

B

B

900 1350 900

(a) Elevation

200 mm

900

6

(b) Cross-section A-A

Figure 6.9 General layout of a small-scale plate girder in bending (T2).

To model the small-scale built-up I-section plate girder (T2) tested by
Nakamura and Narita [ 6.27 ], the finite element program ABAQUS
[1.29] was used. Similar to the modeling of T1, the model has accounted
for the measured geometry, initial geometric imperfections, and measured
material properties of the plate girder. A four-node doubly curved shell ele-
ment with reduced integration (S4R) was used to model the flanges and web
of the small-scale plate girder bridge, as shown in Figure 6.10 . In order to
choose the finite element mesh that provides accurate results with minimum
computational time, convergence studies were conducted. It is found that
approximately 75 76 mm (length by width of S4R element) ratio provides
adequate accuracy in modeling the web while a finer mesh of approximately
25 75 mm was used in the flange (see Figure 6.10 ).