Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Distortional Analysis of Thin-Walled Box Girder Structure: A Comparative Study
by Chidolue, Chinenye A., Osadebe, Nkemakonam N., and Aginam, Chukwura H

Abstract:
In this paper the differential equations of distortional equilibrium for the analysis of doubly symmetric box girder sections, based on Vlasov's theory of thin-walled box girder structures, were derived and used to evaluate the translational-distortional displacements of a 50m span, simply supported rectangular box girder frame. By modifying Debrowski's differential equation for distortional analysis of curved thin-walled box structure, the equivalent equation for straight thin-walled box girder structure was obtained and used to evaluate the rotational-distortional deformation of the numerical study box girder problem. The purpose of the study was to obtain the translational and rotational components of a doubly symmetric box girder section and to obtain a relationship between the two displacement components. The study was based on the premise that if a mathematical relationship between the translational and rotational components of the distortional displacement is established, it will widen the scope of understanding of the distortional behaviour of thin-walled box girder structures. By comparing Vlasov's distortional displacements with Dabrowski.s distortional displacements it was found that there was no relationship between the two displacement quantities.

Keywords: Distortion, translation, rotation, thin-walled box girder, Dabrowski's equation, Vlasovs's theory.

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