Engineering Commons^™

Studies On Tornado-Structure Interactions And Guidance On Design Tornadic Wind Loading, Zhi Li

Doctoral Dissertations

“Tornadoes are violent natural hazards that could caused significant property loss and fatalities. Statistical data indicates that most fatalities during tornado incidents were caused by the building failure under tornadoes. For example, in the 2011 Joplin Tornado, 161 people were killed, and 84 percent of the fatalities were related to the failure of buildings. In addition, most of the significant, tornado-induced property loss and fatalities are relevant to the tornadoes passing through the densely populated regions. Besides buildings, bridges were also severely damaged or destroyed by tornadoes in the United States. To reduce the tornado-induced loss, it is imperative to …

Experimental And Analytical Study Of Dynamic Behavior Of Bridge Superstructures Subjected To Overheight Vehicle Collisions, Yuan Jing

Doctoral Dissertations

The increasing occurrence of over-height vehicle collisions with bridges in the United States leads to concern about the damage due to lateral impact to bridge superstructures by over-height vehicles. However, this issue is not fully addressed in current bridge specifications. Previous researchers have conducted a number of small-scale tests to study the impact process. Also, finite element method (FEM) has largely been used to analyze the complicated collision mechanism.

A full-scale lateral impact testing facility was designed and built on a construction site in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. An AASHTO Type-I prestressed concrete (PC) girder and a Hybrid Composite Beam …

Static And Dynamic Characterization Of Tied Arch Bridges, John Edward Finke

Doctoral Dissertations

"Tied arch bridges have been designed and constructed since the late 19th century. With their open vista owing to minimalist features tied arch bridges continue to appeal the public. Tied arch bridges are both aesthetic and economical alternates to long span bridges holding a place in the hierarchy of major bridges. They fit in a niche between viable and economical plate girder spans and short cable stayed bridge spans. There are several variations of the tied arch with the most common form being those having vertical hangers, stiff tie girders and slender arch ribs. This tied arch variation is examined …