Erection behavior and grillage model accuracy for a large radius curved bridge

The effects of construction procedures on the stresses and deformations in a large radius, horizontally curved, plate girder, bridge were examined along with the accuracy with which grillage models predicted the construction behavior. The examination included a study of the stresses and deformations during construction and a comparison of those quantities to the grillage model predictions. Results from the study indicated that, for the structure that was examined: (1) appreciable warping stresses were generated during girder erection; (2) the classical grillage model predictions were less accurate during girder erection while the “modified” model predictions were more accurate during deck placement; and (3) the predicted grillage model deflections were smaller for an exterior-to-interior girder erection procedure than an interior-to-exterior procedure.