NUMERICAL MODELLING OF COMPOSITE BEAM-TO-BEAM JOINTS-INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

International audienceThis paper deals with a numerical F.E. modelling investigation of new joint typology to connect continuously composite beams in bridges. Different types of joint have been selected, designed and tested under fatigue and monotonic loading. For an accurate interpretation of the test results and a better understanding of some specific behaviours (not accessible to measurement) with complex geometries and with the objective to generalize the study, numerical models have been developed using several Finite Element programs including specific programs for composite beams and 3D models based on standard FEM codes. The main numerical results are presented and compared against experimental ones