Response of skew-curved RC box-girder bridge decks using finite element method

The study examines bending moment, shear force, torsional moment, and vertical deflection in skew-curved bridges. These values are compared with those of straight bridges. SAP2000v20, a finite element method (FEM) based software, is utilised for modelling and analysing the bridges, conforming to the Indian Road Congress (IRC) 6:2017 Codal provisions. The purpose of this research is to examine the behaviour of skew-curved bridges using parametric variations. Also, the equation for a skew-curved bridge with different parameters is derived. The combined impact of curvature and skewness must be considered for accurate analysis, as separate evaluations are insufficient. Additionally, the impact of high skewness in curved bridges is not well-documented, and no specific guidelines or limitations are available. Therefore, a detailed parametric study is conducted to address these gaps, providing insights into the combined influence of skewness and curvature on bridge behaviour. This study extends by considering all IRC loadings and highlights the critical findings under the specified 70R track load conditions. Variables include skew angles, curve angles, span lengths, and the number of cells. Results indicate that incorporating skewness improves the performance of bridges with greater curvature by reducing forces and deflections. Notably, double-cell curved bridges with high skewness outperform single-cell counterparts with the same curvature and the same volume of material. The equations are found to be very close to the finite element results.