RATIONALIZED DESIGN OF INTERMEDIATE DIAPHRAGM IN STEEL BOX GIRDER BRIDGES

Abstract

The space and rigidity of the intermediate diaphragms have been designed based on the design handbook issued from Japan Road Association, in which the large rigidity is precondition, or by computer calculation using BEF analogy model. The former sometimes gives large or impractical rigidity, while the latter method gives much freedom of design, because arbitrary space and rigidity can be chosen and the distortional stress is also calculated. In this paper, aiming at rationalization of the design, the method based on BEF analogy model is proposed, in which the accuracy the distortional stress by analogy calculation is compared with that by FEA and also the economical advantage of using this method is presented.