PARAMETRIC STUDY ON COLLAPSE LOADS OF SKEW COMPOSITE BRIDGES

The prediction of the most probable failure pattern of a bridge under different cases of loading is necessary in order to determine its ulti mate load capacity. In skew bridges, various parameters influence the determination of the minimum collapse load given by equations derived in the companion paper. In this paper, a parametric study is performed to relate the main design parameters and the geometries of the failur e patterns for the minimum collapse load. Both eccentric and concentri c critical loadings are considered. The effects of skew, aspect ratio, number of girders, interaction between diaphragms and main girders, a nd the number of loaded lanes on the failure patterns are studied and presented for each case of loading. Results are presented for both sim ply supported and continuous two-span skew composite bridges.