Civil Engineering Association

Finite Elements Analysis Techniques of Ve ssel Collision with Cable-Stayed Bridge

Abstract: Vessel collision design for bridges crossing navigable waterways is an important consideration since it significantly affects the total cost of bridges. Economical design requires appropriate determination of impact loads imparted to bridge piers. While the collision force is dynamic in nature, current provisions for bridge design are based on static approximations of structural behavior and limited experimental data, it prescribed by current bridge design specifications (Method II probabilistic approach as outlined in " the AASHTO Guide Specifications for
Vessel Collision Design of Highway Bridges"). Collision force and structural deformations predicted by the static and the dynamic analysis techniques are compared for vessel collisions of varying mass (DWT) and Velocity.This
research is concerned with the effect of vessel impact forces on long span cable-stayed bridge. The Contact-Stiffness Approach was applied to determine the maximum impact force of a vessel collision as a function of the vessel velocity, and the deadweight tonnage of the vessel. Impact force is applied to the tower of bridge at the point above water level. A comparative study was conducted to investigate the effect of vessel impact force on Tatara cablestayed bridges, with a center span of 890 m, cases of loading with different values of the vessel velocity, and deadweight tonnage of the vessel were studied for Static and dynamic Analysis finite element bridge Structure usingANSYS program. Results from such comparisons indicate that, dynamic analysis technique are preferable. For more severe collision conditions, the use of equivalent static force for design purposes is acceptable