COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CURVED BRIDGES ON FLEXIBLE BENTS

A computer program is presented for the analysis of continuous prismatic folded plate structures, which are circular in plan and may have up to twelve flexible interior diaphragms or supports. The folded plate structure is considered to be an assemblage of orthotropic plate elements that may, in general, be segments of conical frustra, interconnected at longitudinal joints and simply supported at the two ends. Each plate element is idealized by a number of circumferential finite strips. The finite strip method is used to determine the strip stiffness. Interior diaphragms may be defined by flexible beams, and interior supports may be defined by two-dimensional planar frame bents. A direct stiffness harmonic analysis is used to analyze the assembled folded plate system.