Deck Slab Skewness Behavior on Pier and Longitudinal Girder of Balanced Cantilever Bridge: An Analytical Study

The finite element method (FEM) analysis of balanced cantilever skew bridges under the higher loading class of IRC 6:2017 is explored in this study. The impact of increased skewness in the deck on other structural members of the bridge is examined. For the analysis, a portion of a bridge with a span of 14 meters and a lane width of 3.5 meters is considered. Seven cases are created and analyzed using various skew angles. After the analysis, checks are performed to evaluate how the performance of the deck slab influences other bridge components, including the longitudinal girder. Conclusions are drawn regarding the pier and longitudinal girder based on the results. It is found that greater skewness in the deck slab leads to increased values of parameters such as axial forces, shear forces, bending moments, and torsional moments in the bridge. The analysis demonstrates a direct proportionality between the skew angle and the magnitude of stress, highlighting the critical role of skewness in structural performance evaluations.