STUDY OF INTERCONNEC TED BRIDGE GIRDERS

Abstract

This thesis presents a study of load distribution of concentrated loads to the various longitudinal girders of inter-connected girder bridge. The method of analysis of Hendry-Jaeger, which has been adopted here as the'basis of theoretical computat-ions, has been discussed in detail. Based on this method, influence lines for fraction of unit load, carried by various longitudinal girders of the bridge, have been draw_ for the range of bridge parameters usually occuripg in Actice. Using these influence lines, approximate formulae have been derived for calculating the distribution of moments in various 'girders for two lane I.R.C. class J1 and class B loadings. These formulae could be adopted for ready computation of design moments in girders of such bridges.' To verify the applicability of Hendry4aeger method and also to investigate if the lateral load distribution at work-ing loads will hold at ultimate loads also a one-fifth scale rein-forced concrete model of a 60 ft. span two-lane bridge was tested to destruction. On the basis of the test it may be concluded that the experimental results are in close conformity with the theore-tical ones. Alsol'the distribution of moment to various girders was found tp be almost constant at all loads.