Courbons Method
Hendry Jaeger
Method
Method of Elastic
Support
Distribution
Coefficient Method
AASHTO Method
Grillage Analogy
Finite Element
Method
Effective Width Method of Lateral Load Distribution
Load on the slab is borne by the strip parallel to the
supporting edges on the either side of the load. The
strip is called effective width of slab.
bef = 1.2a + b1
Where
bef - Effective width of slab on which the loads acts
a - Distance of center of gravity of load from the
face of the cantilever support
b1 - Breadth of concentration area of load (W+2h)
h - Thickness of wearing coat
W- Contact width of wheel/track parallel to support
of slab
Effective Width of Slab Effective should not exceed
the actual width of the
slab.
Find live load on slab bridge for its unit width at mid span for the following
data
Effective span of bridge = 8 m
Width of kerb = 0.6 m
Carriage Way = 7.5 m Track of 0.85 m width
Live load = Class AA
Thickness of wearing coat = 60 mm
Depth of slab = 650 mm
a=4m
8m
Effective width of a track 2.05 m
bef = a (1-a/l) + b1 = 6.17 m 1.2 m
4.28 m
Since the effective widths of tracks overlap, 2.05 m
find the modified width for two tracks. 1.625 m
LL per unit width of slab = 700/7.37 = 88.61 KN/m Positioning of track load
Effective Width of
Cantilever Slab
Effective width of cantilever
slab should less or equal to
one third length of cantilever
a slab
1 2 3 4
I1 I2 I3 I4
In Courbons method, load shared by each girder in
central region of bridge deck is found by
R1 = P I1 / I + M I1 h1 / Ih2
R2 = P I2 / I + M I2 h2 / Ih2
R3 = P I3 / I + M I3 h3 / Ih2
R4 = P I4 / I + M I4 h4 / Ih2
In end region i.e., 5.5m from the support, simple beam method is
employed for lateral load distribution.
Find load on girder 1, 2 and 3 from the following For Point Load
loading conditions. R1 = P I1 / I + M I1 h1 / Ih2
= 200/3 + 200/2 = 500/3 KN
1 2 3 R3 = P I3 / I + M I3 h3 / Ih2
I I I Cross Section of Bridge = 200/3 - 200/2 = - 100/3 KN
1m 1m
R3 = P I3 / I + M I3 h3 / Ih2
1 2 3
= 10/3 + 0 = 10/3 KN for central region
=0 for end region
1 2 3 1 2 3
p = po + (p -po) [0.5/(3+0.5)]0.5
Properties of distribution coefficients
pij = pji
pij = 1
1 2 3
3. Find load on each girder
0.75 m 3m 3m 0.75 m = Distribution coefficient Eq. Loads
R1 = p11H1 + p12H2 + p13H3 = 1.355 W
R2 = p21H1 + p22H2 + p23H3 = 1.347 W
R3 = p31H1 + p32H2 + p33H3 = 1.298 W
Where ,
p11 = 0.365, p12 = 0.325, p13 = 0.310
p21 = 0.325, p22 = 0.350, p23 = 0.325
P31 = 0.310, p32 = 0.325, p33 = 0.365
Distribution Coefficient Method
Distribution coefficient method is a simplified method of
bridge deck analysis based on orthotropic plate theory
In this method distribution coefficients are used to
distribute the load and determine responses of bridge deck.
Distribution coefficient depends on flexural and torsional
characterizing parameters of bridge deck.
P
2a
L
To determine distribution coefficients graphs drawn
against flexural characterizing parameter () and load
positions are used. Such graphs have been drawn for
torsionally weak ( =0) and torsionally strong ( =1)
bridge deck.
For intermediate value of interpolation is made to
determine the distribution coefficients.
K = K0+(K1-K0)
2b = 9 m
2a =21 m
3. Find distribution coefficient for required value of
K' = KW/W
= 1.25 for girder 1
= 1.02 for girder 2
= 0.73 for girder 3
100%
80% 80%
Transverse Section
100%
75% 75%
Longitudinal Section
for 0
ref. st. 0 b/4 b/2 0.471b
1
2.5 m
2 3 1 0.2674
1.85 m 2.5 m 1.85m
3 0.1006
5 0.0500
Method of Elastic Supports
A very simple, and powerful method to analyze girder for live load in simply supported T-
beam bridges when Courbons Method is not effective. Significant transverse deformation of
bridge deck occurs when span/width ratio of bridge becomes less than 2 and nos of cross
beams becomes less than 5. In this situation it is right to analyze bridge deck considering
slab as a continuous beam on elastic support.
B
0 1 2
d
Table gives the reaction of girder due to unit load of its different position. For
the unit load lying on cantilever, load is converted into equivalent moment and
unit load applied on exterior girder . For reaction of girder due to equivalent
moment second table of Method of Elastic Supports is used.
First Table
Second Table
0.689
tracked load for the given bridge
0.3 59
0.59
Take, Span of bridge = 12 m, EIg = 1.02 EIcr
0.1 91
P P
0.3 m
Y2
Y1
1.65 m 2.05 m
-0.0001
-0.1 92
-0.2 86
0 1 2 3 4 Draw ILD for reaction of girder 1
1m 2m 2m 2m 2m 1m P P
B = 10 m 1.95 m 2.05 m
0.43 8
0.3 95
0.3 04
0.2 04
Decide applicability of Courbon's Method.
0.1 01
Since l/B = 12/10 = 1.2 > 2, Courbons Method is not applicable.
So apply Method of Elastic Supports to find loads on girders.
Y4
Y3
-0.0 0 01
-0.0 52
Find characterizing parameter = d3/6EIT P = 0.005
Where, d = 2 m, P at mid span = 5/384 wl4/ EI = 5/384 1 124/ 1.02 EIT
It is noted that the equivalent spans are to be used only for obtaining
the transverse distribution effects. The equivalent span basically
affects only the characterizing parameter.
In Hendry Jaeger Method
0.2(l1+l2) 0.2(l3+l2)
0.8l1 0.8l2 0.8l3
l1 l2 l3
In lateral load distribution, for positive moment region it is sufficiently accurate
to assume a mean and uniform value of the longitudinal flexural rigidity in
variable section.