Abstract

QUEIPO, Andrés E et al. Modeling the maximum service load of mobile supports used in the General Rafael Urdaneta bridgeModelado de la carga máxima de servicio de apoyos móviles del tipo utilizado en el puente General Rafael Urdaneta. Rev. Téc. Ing. Univ. Zulia [online]. 2015, vol.38, n.2, pp.104-111. ISSN 0254-0770.

Key elements for preserving the structural integrity of General Rafael Urdaneta bridge (PGRU) are its mobile supports. These supports were designed in the 50’s with simplified analytical models and other limitations, so it is unknown their maximum service loads. For addressing this issue, in this work: i) a numerical model is presented for the structural analysis of PGRU-type mobile support, which it is validated with analytical results from indirect tensile tests, and ii) a linear regression model is used to estimate the maximum service load as a function of design variables (e.g., properties and geometry). The linear regression model was obtained from one- hundred computational simulations. This model achieved an excellent fit (R² greater than 94%). The maximum service load values of the original design, the simulated ones (P_max = 1,135 kN), and those estimated with the regression model ( = 1,044.5 kN) are consistent with  the fact that the PGRU mobile supports currently experience loads greater than 981 kN without significant evidence of damage on the steel pipe or in the concrete cylinder.

Keywords : mobile supports; Gerber beam; indirect tensile test; General Rafael Urdaneta bridge; structural analysis; finite elements; linear regression.

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