Jan 31, 2019Technical Article: Validation and Calibration of Finite Element Model Forces in Wingwalls

The abutment of the HAM-74-1466 Bridge, located on I-74 in Hamilton County, Ohio was instrumented with KM-100 and vibrating wire strain gages and temperature sensors to measure strains and compute stresses in the abutment. These stresses were compared to those computed by finite element models of the abutment created using SAP 2000 v. 19 and ABACUS CAE 2016. The predominant source of stress was environmental loads, but the measured stresses were well below AASHTO permissible design values. The complexity of bridge structures with wingwalls means that some three-dimensional finite element modelling is needed to complement an efficient design method; complexity is an even greater problem for skewed abutment bridges. Soil pressure from backfill is generally not a problem as it is accounted for in the design. Further monitoring is recommended, as is investigation into the interaction between the superstructure and substructure of bridges. For more information, see link below.

Reference: Nusairat, Jamal, et. al. (2017). "Validation and Calibration of Finite Element Model of Forces in Wingwalls," A report prepared for The Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Statewide Planning and Research, State Job Number 135085, December.

Link: http://cdm16007.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p267401ccp2/id/16455