Design by Analysis of Innovative Navigation Structures: Fid-Bau Portal

Design by Analysis of Innovative Navigation Structures

Slattery, Kerry T. / Riveros, Guillermo A.

This article describes the development of "design by analysis" methods for innovative navigation structures. The modeling approach is designed to facilitate the development of a complex three-dimensional finite element mesh and efficiently analyze the structure. Techniques to automatically generate a detailed model of the structure and perform required analysis and design calculations for the individual concrete slabs under all applied loads are illustrated, along with methods for identifying and reporting details of the design for each slab under the worst-case loading. This article begins with a description of assumptions made concerning in-the-wet construction techniques and how these assumptions are accounted for in this development. Then the methods used to replicate typical details of the float-in segments are illustrated. The finite element formulation for the two element types is then presented. Shell elements are used to model the individual concrete slabs. These are connected with superelements derived to provide an accurate solid model of the joint details, including tapers between slabs. An innovative approach to efficiently calculate the stiffness matrix and the slave-master transformation matrix for an arbitrary joint geometry is introduced. The two-way slab design approach (based on American Concrete Institute requirements, ACI 318-02) is summarized, along with a description of methods to calculate shear, moment, and thrust throughout the shell elements and at selected cross sections of the superelements. The design section includes the approach used to modify design parameters based on analysis results. Finally, guidelines are provided for modeling the response of soil and piles used in the foundation.