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Evaluation Of Non-Composite Steel Girder Bridges Using Field Load Testing And A Calibrated Finite-Element Model, Mahmood J. Albraheemi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on understanding the behavior of five, non-composite, simple-span steel girder bridges using field load testing and calibrated finite element models. These bridges were tested during the summer of 2016. Strains and selected displacements were measured at multiple locations during the field load tests. 3D finite-element (FE) models were created to simulate the actual response of these bridges with a novel approach to calibrate these models was developed that captures the observed full and partial composite action as well as rotational restraint of the girder ends. More accurate predictions of the bridges capacity were determined using field tests. …