Journal of Chongqing University (English Edition) [ISSN 1671-8224]
Vol. 7 No. 3
September 2008
198
Article ID: 1671-8224(2008)03-0198-08
To cite this article: ZHANG Zhe, WAN Qi-bai, SHI Lei. Development of cooperative system bridges [J]. J Chongqing Univ: Eng Ed [ISSN 1671-8224], 2008, 7(3): 198-205.
Development of cooperative system bridges
ZHANG Zhe
†
, WAN Qi-bai
‡
, SHI Lei
School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
Received 5 July 2007; received in revised form 8 October 2007
Abstract: Cooperative system bridges comprise several basic structures that act jointly to improve structural characteristics. We
delved into the historical development of cooperative system bridges. Cooperative systems are classified as different-load
cooperative systems and same-load cooperative systems by distinguishing the modes of load distribution. For different-load
cooperation, individual basic structures are at different positions in the direction along bridge axis and carry the loads separately.
While for same-load cooperation, all basic structures overlap in geometrical locations and support the entire loads conjointly. The
choosing of span ratios between basic structures, the design of connections of different-load cooperative systems were discussed
as well as optimizations of relative rigidity for same-load cooperative systems which greatly influence structural characteristics.
The general situation and several structural measurements of several cooperative bridges were demonstrated. This information can
assist engineers in developing their concepts in cooperative systems and can lead to more efficient and economical cooperative
bridges.
Keywords: cooperative system; different-load cooperation; same-load cooperation; connection; relative rigidity
CLC number: U 44 Document code: A
1 Introduction
a
Compared with bridges of basic structural systems,
cooperative system bridges are composed of several
basic systems to satisfy certain functions, including
increasing bridge spans, strengthening load-carrying
abilities, increasing aesthetic appearances and
improving behaviors of structures and local
components, etc [1-5]. Since the definition of
combined system bridges is essentially equal to the
above one, the two definitions will be quoted
equivalently in this article.
The definition of cooperative systems is very board.
Many bridge systems can be considered as cooperative
systems except three basic structural systems: beam,
arch and suspension. For example, continuous beam
bridges can be assumed to be cooperative systems of
several simple supported beam bridges. And
†
ZHANG Zhe (张哲): zhangzhe@dlut.edu.cn.
‡
Corresponding author, WAN Qi-bai (万其柏):
vision10700@hotmail.com.
cooperative structures may combine with other bridges
into multilevel cooperative system bridges. For
instance, continuous rigid frame and beam bridges are
bridges of cooperative rigid frames and continuous
beam systems, and continuous tie-arch bridges are
combined by continuous beam and arch bridges.
Generally cooperative systems refer to the
combinations of bridges of common well-established
types, such as beam, arch, cable-stayed, suspension and
rigid frame bridges [1-4,6-7]. As illustrated in Fig. 1,
these cooperative systems include: the cooperative
rigid frame and continuous beam system, the combined
beam-arch system, the cooperative cable-stayed and
beam system, the cooperative cable-stayed and
suspension system or combined suspension and cable-
stayed system [8], the cooperative cable-stayed and
rigid frame system, the cooperative cable-stayed and
arch system, the cooperative rigid frame and arch
system, the cooperative rigid frame and deck
suspension system, the cooperative cable-stayed and
deck suspension system, the cooperative suspension-
arch system, the cooperative truss-arch system, etc. [1-