Beruflich Dokumente
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BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS
Current Printing of this edition: 1st
th
Reference Bridge Code: AASHTO LRFD 7 Edition, 2014
Copyright 2016 by David Connor, SE, PE
All rights reserved.
No part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. Contact the
author via e-mail at davidconnorse@gmail.com for inquiries.
This publication shall be used for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional and sound engineering
judgment. The author does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein and shall not be
responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising out of use of the information in this publication. It is understood that
the author is not rendering professional engineering services via this publication.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the National Council of Examiners for
Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) were not involved in producing this publication. Any mention of these, or similar
organizations, within this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the publication, nor the information published
herein.
Any similarity between the problems appearing in this publication and problems published by others or that appear on the
NCEES Structural Engineering (SE) Exam is purely coincidental. The subject matter of the problems was chosen based on what
the author believed what may appear on future SE Exams only.
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Table of Contents
Subject Matter of Each Problem.
About the Author.
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Acknowledgements.
Preface.
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i-6
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- i-15
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- i-28
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Bridge Problems for the Structural Engineering (SE) Exam: Vertical Loads
40 Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Sheet.
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1
2
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Bridge Problems for the Structural Engineering (SE) Exam: Vertical Loads
Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key.
i-33 i-34
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i-32
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i-3
i-4
After you have gathered together all of the codes, tab them. Solving problems quickly
is paramount to passing the SE Exam and the use of tabs will help you to quickly find the
code information you need. This process will also help you get familiar with the layout of
the codes and you may even find information in the codes that is useful in your day-today work experience. Again, dont underestimate the time it will take to perform this
task. It took me the better part of 2 weeks to tab my codes. Be selective with your
tabbing. If you overtab, you could have the reverse effect of making it more difficult to
find information quickly. Also, leave a gap without tabs in the middle of the page edges
to make flipping through the pages easier and so that your thumb does not get caught
on the tabbed pages. See the photo below.
This may sound like common sense and trivial, but the best way to study is to work out
problems step-by-step, by hand. Obviously, this is how you will need to solve the
problems on the exam as well. The reason I mention this is because, many if not all,
structural engineers today depend on the use of spreadsheets and structural
engineering software to perform the sometimes repetitive structural engineering and
analysis tasks. Solving problems by hand will help you to identify the best ways to solve
a problem, where in the code to find the information, and where you may get tripped
up.
i-9
i-19
Nomenclature
A
Ab
Acv
Ag
Agirder
Aps
As
Asc
Ast
Av
Avf
A1
A2
ADTTSL
AEP
BR
bf
bs
bt
bv
C
c
Cd
CF
Cfu
Ci
CKF
CM
Cv
CV
CVN
C
D
DC
DW
DWT
Dp
Dt
d
db
do
dv
E
Ec
Eci
Ect
Ep
EH
EV
F
F*
Fb
Fbo
FCM
Fp
Fu
Fub
Fy
Fyf
Fyw
Fys
fc
fci
i-29
BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS
Problem #1
VERTICAL PROBLEMS
Refer to the bridge deck section, design data, and assumptions below:
1200 kip-ft
1440 kip-ft
1730 kip-ft
2100 kip-ft
BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS
Problem #30:
A bridge plate girder has the following end bearing condition:
600 kips
670 kips
810 kips
870 kips
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BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS
Problem #2 Correct Answer (D)
This is another fundamental problem necessary for all bridges. Many bridges have shorter end spans and
at shorter spans the design tandem live load governs over the design truck live load. This problem also
tests the concepts of live load dynamic impact allowance, live load distribution to girders, and application
of load combinations.
TIP: Tandem live load will govern for the
Pertinent Sections and Tables
following:
Table 3.4.1-1 - Load Combinations and Load Factors
Moment Simple spans 40 ft or less
Table 3.4.1-2 - Load Factors for Permanent Loads
Shear Simple spans 25 ft or less
Section 3.6.1.2 Design Vehicular Live Load
Table 3.6.2.1-1 Load Allowance, IM
Table 4.6.2.2.1-1 Common Deck Superstructures
Table 4.6.2.2.3a-1 Distribution of Live Loads for Shear in Interior Beams
Solution
Step 1 Determination of Shears for each loading:
VDC = (3.0 k/ft)*(20 ft) / 2 = 30 k distributed over 5 girders = 6.0 k
VDW=(0.5 k/ft)*(20 ft) / 2 = 5 k distributed over 5 girders = 1.0 k
VLL(LANE)= Shear due to Design Lane Live Load = .64 kips/ft (Section 3.6.1.2.4)
= (.64 k/ft)*(20 ft) / 2 = 6.4 k
VLL(HL-93) = The tandem shear governs over the truck shear. Determine by placing (2)-25 kip loads 4 feet
apart at the end of the span.
VLL(HL-93)= (25k)+(25k)*[(20-4)/20] = 45 k (Note: The shear for the design truck is 41.6 k)
VIM = Dynamic Load Allowance (IM) applied to the static HL-93 live load (Section 3.6.2.1)
= 0.33*(45 k) = 14.9 k (Note: The IM load for the design truck is 13.7 k)
Step 2 Determination of the Live Load Distribution Factor:
Table 4.6.2.2.1-1 - Applicable cross section = (a)
Table 4.6.2.2.3a-1 Given the applicable cross section, range of applicability parameters given in this
table, and design for 2 lanes loaded, the live load distribution factor is the following:
2
46
BRIDGE PROBLEMS FOR THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (SE) EXAM: VERTICAL LOADS
4L(
= 4.33
The pertinent section properties for this effective column section about the web axis are as follows:
2
4
I = 16.2 in
r = 1.33
Ag = 9.02 in
Step 3 Determine the design axial capacity of the bearing stiffeners/effective column section:
Per AASHTO Section 6.10.11.2.4a the axial resistance is determined by taking the effective length of the
column section as .75D = .75*(48 in) = 36 in. The nominal axial capacity for non-composite members may
be determined per AASHTO Section 6.9.2.1 & 6.9.4.
2
Po = QFyAg = (1.0)(50 ksi)(9.02in ) = 451 kips (Q = 1.0 for bearing stiffeners typical)
2
2
2
Pe = {( E)/[(36/1.33) ]}*(9.02 in ) = 3520 kips (AASHTO Eq. 6.9.4.1.2-1)
(451/3520)
Pe/Po = 7.8 thus Pn is per AASHTO Eq. 6.9.4.1.1-1 Pn = [0.658
]*(451 kips) = 427 kips
Design Axial Capacity = Pr = cPn = (0.9)*(427 kips) = Answer: 385 kips (c = 0.9 per section 6.5.4.2)
Incorrect Answers
(A) 133 kips - This answer would have been determined if the web was not considered as part of the
effective column section.
(B) 370 kips - This answer would have been determined if KL was taken as 48.
(C) 385 kips - This is the correct answer.
(D) 426 kips - This answer would have been determined if the effective column section was
considered as 9tw at both sides of the stiffeners, instead of 4 toward the end of the girder.
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VERTICAL SOLUTIONS