AN ULTIMATE STRENGTH DESIGN AID FOR FIXED-END STEEL ARCHES UNDER VERTICAL LOADS

Abstract

To begin with, fixed-end restraint effects on the capacity of steel arches loaded into elastic or inelastic and finite deformation range is studied by a nonlinear finite element approach. Then, based on this result, a design formula which predicts the ultimate strength of fixed arches is proposed using effective length concept. By comparing with the analitically determined ultimate strength it is shown that these formulas accurately predict the strength of fixed arches for use in design.