Damage assessment of steel bridge under time-varying wind and live loads acting on its surface

Today, in the assessment of steel bridge structures, simultaneous analysis of multiple probabilistic loading effects plays a crucial role in predicting damage-prone regions and estimating service life. In the present study, the combined effects of variable vertical loads due to vehicle traffic and stochastic wind loads on the structural performance of steel bridges were investigated. For this purpose, two probabilistic scenarios were considered, in which three bridges with different dimensions were modeled and subjected to simultaneous loading conditions. In part of the analysis, certain structural elements were removed to simulate local failure and evaluate its impact on stress distribution and overall structural deformation. The modeling was performed using ABAQUS and based on nonlinear analyses. The results indicate that the combination of stochastic wind and vertical loads can significantly alter the damage distribution pattern and, in some cases, shift critical regions. Furthermore, the analysis of predefined failure scenarios under the combined effect of these two load types shows that structural sensitivity to variable wind loads is particularly pronounced in long-span bridges. The findings of this study can inform the design of retrofitting measures and enhance the reliability of steel bridges under complex environmental conditions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Steel bridges ، service life estimation ، structural sensitivity to wind load