A study on design method using 3D-FE analysis for simply supported composite plate girder bridges

Conventionally, steel bridges have been designed using the grillage analysis. Recently, the remarkable development in computer technology has made 3D-FE analysis with high analytical accuracy easy to conduct. Although it is thought that rational design can be attained by introducing FE analysis into the design practice, the conventional safety check procedure should be changed to realize that. In this research, 3D-FE analysis and grillage analysis of two plate girder bridges are carried out. Based on the results of the analyses，design method using 3D-FE analysis is discussed