Structural analysis of precast concrete continuous beam considering joint stiffness

Internal forces of precast concrete continuous beam with pier-beam consolidation at the ends considering joint stiffness are analyzed in this paper, while a beam element model with rotational springs at both ends is used to replace the regular beam element. The results could be shown as follows: diversification of flexible nodal stiffness has different influences on various bridge sections, and the influence is greater when the section is closer to the joint. The coefficient α, which is the ratio of beam linear stiffness to flexible joint stiffness, and the coefficient β, which is the ratio of beam flexural stiffness to pier flexural stiffness, changes together in this paper. When they are small in both, the moment varies considerably; when one of them is greater than 5, the amplitude of moment variations is small. The beam-pier joint can be regarded as an ideal hinge connection when coefficient α is greater than 5. While coefficient α is smaller than 0.05, the joint can be considered as an ideal rigid connection.