Numerical analysis of a prestressed bridge considering construction processes.

Resumo

Significant variations in geometry and supporting conditions can take place during the construction
process of structures. These situations certainly influence the distributions of internal forces, displacements, and
other structural responses during the construction phase and serviceability life of the structure, as customary
occur in multi-span bridges. Thus, it is important to highlight these effects since collapses are recurrent during
the construction period. In this sense, this study aims to contribute to a better understanding of structures during
the construction phase by using numerical analysis. The sequential construction analysis is modeled using a
ghost approach, which is coded into a three-dimensional finite element program, named VIMIS, developed at the
PPGEC/UFRGS. To verify the code implementation in the context of the viscoelastic behavior of materials, a
prestressed concrete bridge is analyzed, including the construction conditions, creep, shrinkage and relaxation
effects. The obtained results expressed in terms of displacements and stresses are then compared with those of an
academic software. As expected, VIMIS can capture the structural effects associated with construction phasing,
reinforcing the necessity of include these analyses in structural designs.