Elastic Stability of Two-Span Continuous Beams under Moving Loads: Fid-Bau Portal

Elastic Stability of Two-Span Continuous Beams under Moving Loads

Zhang, Lei / Tong, Gengshu

The elastic stability of two span continuous beams has been studied using FEA methods. Two formulae for estimating the critical loads are proposed, one is suitable for two-span beams with one span loaded, while the other is suitable for two-span beams with both spans equally loaded. Two identical concentrated loads symmetrically located about the mid-span of each loaded span were considered in the derivation of both formulae, and the effect of the height of loaded points for doubly symmetric beams was included. The formulae presented are also accurate enough in calculating the critical loads for two-span continuous beams with the mono-symmetric sections used in practice if the point of load application is at or above the shear centre. A linear approximation is suggested for the interaction of two spans when the two spans of the beam are not equally loaded. For a two-span continuous runway girder supporting moving cranes, the minimum critical load and the maximum absolute moment were investigated, some possible combination of wheel forces on beams considered, and approaches to calculating the critical load for each load combination are suggested when the girder has either one or two cranes moving along it.