The analysis of orthotropic skew bridge slabs

Summary A method is presented for the direct stress analysis of orthotropic skew bridge slabs.The method of analysis employs the Principle of Least Work, in conjunction with the assumption that the stress resultants may be expressed as Fourier series in the chordwise co-ordinate, the coefficients being functions of the spanwise position only. A system of oblique co-ordinates is used to simplify the analysis.Nomenclature O(x, y) system of orthogonal co-ordinates - O(u, v) system of oblique co-ordinates - angle between axes Ou, Ov - , non-dimensional oblique co-ordinates - l oblique span of slab - L right span of slab - c transverse slab width - t slab thickness - r _i c/(2il) - M _x , M _y , M _xy bending and twisting moments per unit length - M _u , M _v , M _uv oblique bending and twisting moments - S _x , S _y shear forces per unit length - normal load intensity - p oblique normal load intensity - E _x , E _y E _xy , G _xy elastic moduli defining stress-strain relationships in orthotropic plates - A _ij strain energy coefficients - F _i , G _i bending moment functions - R _i , S _i twisting moment functions - C ₁, C ₂, C ₃ statical bending and twisting moment constants - D operator d/d - S _u , S _v oblique shear forces per unit length