FORCE-BASED METHOD FOR NONLINEAR ANALYSES OF CONTINUOUS STEEL-CONCRETE COMPOSITE GIRDERS

Abstract

This study introduces an analytical approach for the nonlinear analysis of continuous steel-concrete composite girders. The proposed method achieves high accuracy by addressing key nonlinear effects, such as gradual and distributed yielding, while overcoming the limitations of conventional numerical techniques that rely heavily on element subdivision and complex computations. By utilizing three-moment equations from the force-based method, the approach establishes relationships between bending moments at three consecutive supports, enhancing the analysis of continuous girders and effectively capturing nonlinear flexural behavior. It should be noted that the method assumes full composite action and neglects shear slip effects, making it most suitable for flexure-dominated scenarios with adequate shear connection. The method's validity is confirmed through comparisons with advanced numerical simulations and full-scale experimental data from existing literature, demonstrating excellent agreement. These results establish the proposed approach as a dependable benchmark for validating numerical models and provide engineers with a practical yet precise tool for evaluating capacities and deflections of continuous girders.