Intermediate diaphragms arrangement in horizontal curved composite box-girder bridge with corrugated webs

Horizontally curved box girder bridges inherently exhibit complex torsional and distortional behavior as well as bending due to the initial curvature. As to the horizontal curved composite box-girder bridges with corrugated webs, diaphragms were arranged reasonably to reduce torsional and distortion effect for safety and stability due to the coupling of bending and torsion effect for initial curvature and reduced bending stiffness in horizontal direction for corrugated steel webs. Finite element models for a 3-spans continuous horizontal curved composite box girder bridges with corrugated webs were established. Comparing the ratio of warping normal stress to bending normal stress, the influence of the number and spacing for diaphragms on distortion control for curved bridges is investigated. Extensive parametric studies (including central angle, the aspect ratio of the box section, the spacing of the intermediate diaphragms)are performed and the design suggestions for the maximum spacing of the intermediate diaphragms are presented.