Ultimate behaviour and strength of steel girder bridges

In this project, advanced analysis was performed to evaluate the ultimate behaviour and load-carrying capability of a steel girder railway bridge designed by member-based design code AASHTO-LRFD. This project was funded by Korea National Railway Rail Network Authority – the biggest railway construction organisation in Korea. The result of advanced analysis predicted by ABAQUS indicated that the member-based design method is too conservative compared to the design by advanced analysis. At the ultimate stage, the bridge was failed by the lateral buckling of the I-girder as shown in the below figure.