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Box girder bridges
From Steelconstruction.info
Steel box girders and steel and concrete composite box girders are used for long spans, where the self weight of the bridge
needs to be minimized, and for situations where their excellent high torsional stiffness is of particular benefit. The clean
lines of box girders bridges, usually with no visible external stiffening, is generally considered to give a excellent
appearance and durability, since there are no traps for dirt and moisture. This article illustrates a few examples of box girder
construction for bridges.
Box sections are also sometimes used as compression members, such as in towers of cable-supported structures or arch.
structures, but these applications are outside the scope of this article.
Contents
= 1 Forms of construction
= 1.1 Highway bridges
= 1.1.1 Composite
box girders
= 1.1.2 Steel box
girders
= 1.13 Cable-
supported box
girders
= 1.14 Curved
bridges
= 1.2 Railway bridges
= 1.3 Footbridges
2 Design aspects
3 Construction and maintenance
aspects
= 4 Why choose steel box girders?
= 5 References A9 Pitlochry
= 6 Resources
7 See also
8 External links
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[top]Forms of construction
A box girder bridge is one in which the principal structural element is one or more closed cells, acting in bending. Box
girders are used for highway bridges, railway bridges and footbridges — different structural forms are chosen for each of
these applications.
[top]Highway bridges
[top]Composite box girders
For highway bridges, the structural
configuration is usually of a reinforced
concrete deck slab, carrying the traffic, cI
on top of stee! girders. The deck slab
acts compositely with the steel girders. =e Sere
For spans in the range 45 to 100m, Bl = | l | |
multiple girders are used, with the slab
spanning transversely between the webs t
For such configurations, relatively
narrow rectangular steel box sections
have sometimes been chosen, as shown
right. However, such sections are rather
small and introduce significant hazards for access for construction and maintenance and are rarely chosen now for this span
range.
2-1
‘Composite box girder bridge with rectangular steel box sections
Interchange bridges using rectangular steel boxes with composite
deck slab
(M2S/MG Junction 4B Bridges
An alternative configuration that is now more commonly used employs ‘open topped’ trape7oidal girders. These girders
have a steel bottom flange, inclined steel webs and a narrow steel flange on top of each web. The closed cell is formed by
the reinforced concrete deck slab. This form is shown right. With this configuration, material access during construction can
be minimised by the use of permanent formwork (or precast slabs) and for maintenance the cells are larger than those for
rectangular steel boxes, thus reducing the difficulties of access.
With both forms, the girder depth is usually uniform at the lower end of the span range, but variable depth girders are used
for longer spans. With ‘trapezoidal’ sections, this results in a variation of the width of the bottom flange, as shown below.
hiipdlwwwsteelconstruction nvolBox_grder bridges 28siioz017 Box gtr bridges - Slelconstructoninfo
‘The deck slab is of nominally uniform
thickness, about 250 mm thick, This
limits the transverse spacing of webs to
about 4m.
wt
107
Composite box girder bridge with open-topped trapezoidal stel sections
aviw MV
er,
‘Open trapezoidal composite box girder during construction Variable depth trapezoidal box girders
River Nene Bridge, Peterborough
An alternative form used in continental Europe is a single cell trapezoidal cell steel girder with a transversely prestressed
deck slab. The slab is deeper over the webs of the girder, allowing the transverse span of the slab to be up to 7m.
For longer spans, twin girders (usually rectangular cross section) with cross girders and cantilever girders are often used.
‘This allows two girders to support wide decks (dual carriageway roads). With those longer spans the girders are very often
variable depth.
[top]Steel box girders
For spans over about 200m, all steel construction is often used. The roadway is then carried on a longitudinally stiffened
steel top flange, commonly known as an orthotropic steel deck. Such construction is lighter but is more complex to
fabricate
hiipdlwwwsteelconstruction nvolBox_grder bridges a8sio2017 Box girder bridges -Stoolconsructioninfo
Long span steol box girder bridge
Foyle Bridge, Londonderry
[top|Cable-supported box girders
For very long spans, cable stayed construction is often used in conjunction with steel or composite box girders. Steel box
girders are also used as stiffening girders of suspension bridges. For such applications an ‘aerodynamically shaped” cross
section profile is used,
[top]Curved bridges
Where the road is curved in plan, box girders can be curved to suit, which ensures that the cantilevers are of constant
length,
Box girders curved in plan
Fossedyke Bridge, Lincoln
[top]Railway bridges
For railways, construction depth is usually very tightly constrained and half through construction must be employed, One
option is then the Network Rail ‘Standard Box Girder”.
hiipdlwwwsteelconstruction nvolBox_grder bridges a802017 Box girder bridges -Stoolconsructioninfo
‘The Network Rail Standard Box Gi
type bridge that covers a span range
from 21m to 39m uses trapezoidal box
girders with a transverse ribbed steel Seas |
deck spanning between notionally pin-
jointed shear plate connections: the box
girders are stabilised by linear rocker
bearings. This design is particularly
suited to piecemeal crane erection during
track possession, With half through
construction, the deck can be either in
situ concrete, partially encasing close
centred cross girders, or a normal slab
above more widely spaced cross girders. Stiffened steel plate construction can also be used, depending on the proposed
erection method and available construction depth.
42 te
‘Stat forte
[Network Rail standard box girder (shown for three-box, twin track option)
For railways on new alignments, where construction depth may not be so tightly constrained, the track can be carried on a
slab-on-beam composite bridge, in the same way as used for highways. The use of box girders is then particularly
advantageous as their greater torsional stiffness reduces susceptibility to track twist.
Construction of a composite box girder bridge for CTRL
‘M20 Newington Bridge
[top|Footbridges
Box girders are usually considered for footbridges only for spans over about 30m, and most box girder footbridges adopt an
all-steel configuration. The advantage in using an all-steel configuration is that the whole cross section, including parapets,
can be fabricated at the works for delivery and erection in complete spans; the weight of such spans is modest and easily
handled by a mobile crane. The thickness of the top flange which also forms the floor plate will be determined by overall
bending strength rather than local floor loading. The plate is typically supported by transverse stiffeners which cantilever to
edge beams. Two or three longitudinal stiffeners may be provided to stiffen the floor plate when acting as the compression
flange of the box. Diaphragms are needed at supports and are often provided at several positions along the length of the
girder (typically the third points) to control distortion. Large holes will be required in the diaphragms if access is required
during fabrication o maintenance.
hiipdlwwwsteelconstruction nvolBox_grder bridges 5802017 Box girder bridges -Stoolconsructioninfo
[p00
=
COMPOSITE STEEL
Box sections for footbridges
Castleford Footbridge
[top]Design aspects
The selection of a box girder form usually results in relatively thin plate panels (in terms of thickness to width ratio) for the
‘webs and bottom flanges (and for top flanges, in all-steel boxes). Avoidance of local buckling in compression zones and in
shear requires appropriate stiffening and longitudinal stiffeners are often required. Although box sections offer high
torsional stiffness, internal cross frames are usually needed to prevent distortion (when one web is subject to greater shear
hiipdlwwwsteelconstruction nvolBox_grder bridges 68sio2017 Box girder bridges -Stoolconsructioninfo
than the other, one diagonal dimension across the cell
increases and the other decreases). Bearings at supports.
are normally within the width of the bottom flange
(rather than directly under the webs) and an internal
diaphragm is needed to transfer the reactions,
When open-top boxes are used, they have very little
torsional stiffiess at the bare steel stage and the narrow
top flanges might be susceptible to lateral buckling (a
later-torsional buckling mode for the U-shaped section).
It is therefore necessary to introduce some plan bracing
to the top flange (not necessarily over the full lengths of
the spans) to restrict twist and slenderness for buckling,
Such bracing must avoid conflict with slab construction.
For any closed cell that requires internal access to 2
construct itor to carry out inspection and maintenance,
‘Health and safety considerations require sufficiently
large and well-placed openings that an injured person
could be quickly evacuated. All intemal stiffening and diaphragms must therefore be designed such that openings are big
enough and that movernent along the cell is unimpeded. The following design aspects are discussed in Guidance Note 1.08:
Internal stiffening in a small stee! box girder
Complexity of fabrication
Internal access
Stability during construction
longitudinal stiffening of plate panels
‘Transverse stiffeners and beams
Control of distortion
Webiflange welds
Guidance on design of composite highway bridges is given in SCI P140 (although the main design standard referred to in
that publication is BS 5400-3"), the principles are equally applicable to design to the Eurocodes).
Guidance on the design of railway bridges is given in SCI P318, Design requirements for the Network Rail Standard Box
Girder bridge are given in documents available from Network Rail
[top]Construction and maintenance aspects
All the features of stiffening and diaphragms mentioned above lead to more complex fabrication, without the advantage of
the semi-automatic processes that can be employed with I-section girders, and thus to more costly fabrication, This is
particularly true for steel decks: the fabrication of orthotropic decks requires much experience and special welding
procedures in order to achieve the necessary tolerances on flatness.
For composite bridges, the use of temporary formwork to construct the slab would in most eases lead to difficult and
hazardous work inside the girders and thus permanent formwork (or possibly full thickness precast slab units) is almost
always used
To avoid a continuing requirement to maintain an internal corrosion protection system over the life of a bridge, its now
common practice to use weathering steel for the box girders, even when an external coating system is specified (either for
corrosion protection or appearance).
Externally, there are very few features on box girders that can accumulate dirt and moisture; this should ensure good
durability for either a coating system or a weathering steel surface. If a coating system is applied, maintenance is easier
with the clean surfaces of the girders.
[top]Why choose steel box girders?
The selection, or otherwise, of a steel box gitder always needs a consideration of the relative advantages and disadvantages
of box girder elements compared to the more traditional '’ girder elements.
hiipdlwwwsteelconstruction nvolBox_grder bridges 7802017 Box girder bridges -Stoolconsructioninfo
Advantages, compared to '’ girders:
= High torsional stiffness and strength, giving greater suitability for horizontally curved bridges, greater aerodynamic
stability and reduced susceptibility to lateral buckling of flanges (in lateral-torsional or distortional buckling modes)
= Reduced need for support points
= Improved durability and reduced maintenance of protective coatings (less exposed surface, fewer edges, avoidance of
exposed horizontal surfaces, no exposed bracing and stiffeners).
= The clean lines of a closed box girder are also often considered give an excellent appearance, particularly for
footbridges where the visual impact is considered to be important.
Disadvantages
jreater fabrication costs on account of the reduced scope for automated fabrication and greater difficulty of handling
and rotating during fabrication and coating.
= Greater design input.
= Risks associated with working in enclosed spaces.
[top]References
1. BS 5400-3:2000, Steel, concrete and composite bridges. Code of practice for design of steel bridges. BST
[top]Resources
= Hendy, CR.; Iles, D.C. (2015) Steel Bridge Group: Guidance Notes on best practice in steel bridge construction (6th
Issue), (P185), SCL
+ Guidance Note 1.08, Box girder bridges
= Iles, D.C. (2004) Design guide for composite box girder bridges. (P140). SCI
1 Tes, D.C. (2004) Design guide for steel railway bridges. (P318). SCI
= Steel Bridges: A practical approach to design for efficient fabrication and construction, 2010, (Publication no. $1/10),
BCSA
[top]See also
Sustainable steel bridges
Half-through bridges.
‘Weathering steel
Bracing systems
Stiffeners
Connections in bridges
Bridge articulation and bearing specification
Plan curvature in bridges
Design for steel bridge construction
Design of steel footbridges
[top]External links
= Highways England DMRB (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges)
= Highways England MCDHW (Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works)
= The Stee! Bridge Group (SBG)
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