Bridge Engineering Institute Conference 2023 (BEI-2023)

Rome, Italy, July 17-20, 2023

Use of Steel Orthotropic Box Girders for Light Weight Long Span Bridges -
Analysis and Design of Pedestrian Bridge in Dubai

Tharun John Joseph1*, Anirudh Desai2, Koyya Satyanarayana3, Bogdan Barbulescu4 and Kannaw
Shrivatsa5

1*
: Bridge Engineer, Jacobs Engineering Group, Dubai, UAE; email: Tharun.Joseph@
jacobs.com
2
: Lead Engineer, Jacobs Engineering Group, Hyderabad, India; email: Anirudh.Desai@
jacobs.com
3
: Section Manager, Jacobs Engineering Group, Hyderabad, India; email:
Satyanarayana.KoyyaVV@jacobs.com
4
: Senior Associate Director, Jacobs Engineering Group, Bristol, UK; email:
Bogdan.Barbulescu@jacobs.com
5
: Project Manager, Jacobs Engineering Group, Dubai, UAE; email:
Kannaw.Shrivatsa@jacobs.com
*
: corresponding author

Keywords: steel structure, structural dynamics, finite element modelling

Abstract: Orthotropic Steel Decks are efficient structural systems capable to increase the
durability, redundance and efficiency of steel structures and therefore reduce the associated self-
weight of the structure. Generally, a typical orthotropic steel deck system (OSD) consists of a
flat steel deck plate, stiffened by a series of closely spaced longitudinal ribs with support by
orthogonal transverse floor beams. In orthotropic box girders, the OSD is an integral part of the
steel box framing and therefore acts as its flange. The use of stiffened steel plate over one-
dimensional beams as load carrying elements, results in a higher strength-to-weight ratio of
structural members. This has led to an increase in the use of orthotropic steel decks, especially
for long-span bridges. This paper summarises the analysis and detailed design of the recently
completed pedestrian bridge on King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Road. The bridge connects all
corners of a four-way junction with a tram crossing, with the longest span measuring 76m. The
footbridge is located at one of the prime locations in the city and hence, aesthetics and
functionality was of prime importance to the Employer. The complex geometry, long design
spans and space constraints for the substructure were the major challenges in designing this
footbridge structure. This infinity shaped four-way bridge is made up of orthotropic steel box
girders with 4.8x2.0m trapezoidal cross-sections, with the main curved spans connected at the
centre to provide torsional stability (Fig 1). The top and bottom flanges of the box are made up
of thin plates stiffened with trapezoidal closed ribs longitudinally to increase the flexural
buckling resistance of the compression flanges. Equally spaced internal transverse ring-stiffeners
are provided along box girders to retain the fabricated configuration of the girder when subjected
to torsion and avoid girder distortion that would have resulted in additional longitudinal warping
stresses as well as out-of-plane bending stresses in the individual plates of the box sections. The

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 Bridge Engineering Institute Conference 2023 (BEI-2023)
Rome, Italy, July 17-20, 2023

structure was modelled and analysed in Midas CIVIL finite element software. A detailed
dynamic analysis was performed to study the complex dynamic forces induced by pedestrians
and determine all critical vibrational modes in longitudinal, transverse and vertical directions. In-
house design sheets based on AASHTO LRFD were developed exclusively for the project due to
the complex shape and uncommon cross-sections. While the 3D line beam model was sufficient
for section design and studying the global behaviour and vibrational modes, it did not fully
capture the complex load path at the corners and box girder intersections. Hence, a more realistic
3D Finite Element Model using shell plates was created to substantiate the design assumptions
and understand the complex interaction between the bending, distortion and twisting of the deck
at the corners and intersections. The 3D model helped to validate the detailed design, obtain a
realistic estimate of the deflections and understand the complex load path and therefore avoiding
critical stress concentrations, optimise member sizes and providing the required camber diagrams
along each web of curved box girders.

1. Introduction
Jacobs was appointed by the Contractor (Besix group) as a Design Consultant to design for
construction a pedestrian bridge required to connect all 4 sides of one of the busiest junctions in
Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai as part of the Design and Build Contract. A non-conventional
pedestrian crossing was indispensable at this location due to the high concentration of pedestrian
traffic and congestion due to tram and vehicular movement from all sides. The design and layout
of the bridge were finalized after considering all the requirements and constraints at the junction.

1.1. Architecture
The bridge has a unique infinity shape, composed of 4 steel decks, linking all 4 corners of the
junction for a smooth pedestrian movement in all directions. The 4 decks form a continuous
infinity shape structure that is simply supported on 4 circular concrete piers with conventional
pot bearings placed in each corner. The longitudinal spans are 76m and 72m and the transverse
spans are 48m and 26m. Elevators and staircases are provided in all 4 corners for ease of
pedestrian access.

(a) (b)

Fig. 1. (a) Birds eye view of the bridge and (b) Typical cross-section of the girders

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 Bridge Engineering Institute Conference 2023 (BEI-2023)
Rome, Italy, July 17-20, 2023

1.2. Steel Orthotropic Box Girder

The curved shape and long design spans required an efficient section with high strength-to-
weight ratio and hence, orthotropic steel deck system integral with the supporting bridge
superstructure framing as a top flange common to both the transverse floorbeams and
longitudinal box girders was chosen. A typical orthotropic box girder is made up of flat, thin
steel plates stiffened by closely spaced longitudinal and transverse ribs. These ribs result in
increased rigidity and considerable material saving compared to conventional steel structures.

2. Analysis & Design

The footbridge was modelled and analysed in Midas Civil and detail designed using design
sheets developed in-house. The loads and structural steelwork design are based on AASHTO
LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 4th Edition (AASHTO, 2007). Basic section and
substructure design was done based on the results obtained from the 3-D line beam model. 3-D
line beam model was created to understand the overall behaviour of the structure and extract
internal forces and bending moments for designing the steel cross-sections. However, a detailed
3-dimensional solid model was additionally created and analysed to validate the assumptions
regarding stress flow and member design. The cross-section was designed based on the results
extracted from the line beam model. Standard steelwork details (trapezoidal stiffeners, floor
beams, their intersections and required cut-outs, etc.) were designed based on AASHTO LRFD
Level 1 design but clearly supplemented with 3D line beam and full 3D finite element shell plate
analysis models to capture both global and local behaviours.

(a) (b)

Fig. 2. (a) 2-D Line model and (b) 3-D Plate models created to analyse the bridge.

2.1. Major Challenges & Issues

Reduced plate thickness and complicated weld details possessed a major risk of fatigue cracking
as observed in many orthotropic box girder bridges around the world, especially at the rib-to-
deck plate joint and that between the transverse and longitudinal ribs (FHWA, 2012). This was
mainly due to the stresses developed due to the in-plane flexure of the transverse ribs combined
with the out-of-plane twisting of the longitudinal ribs. In addition, the complex shape of the
bridge made the sharp corners prone to high concentrations of stresses. The interaction between
the adjacent spans was complex and it was observed that the loads transferred from the long,
curved spans caused significant twisting of the shorter side spans. The curved and side spans
intersected at different angles in each of the four corners, which affected the symmetry of the
structure. Hence, special design considerations had to be given to the load path and the internal
flow of stresses in each of these corners to produce an optimum design.

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 Bridge Engineering Institute Conference 2023 (BEI-2023)
Rome, Italy, July 17-20, 2023

All these issues were carefully studied to mitigate all possible construction/operational
challenges. Complete Joint Penetration (CJP) welds were used between all structural members to
improve the fatigue strength of welded joints between and the ribs and deck plate (Dung et. al.,
2015). At critical welding locations, base metal materials with improved through-thickness
properties and specific welding details were prescribed to mitigate risk of lamellar tearing.
Staircases to the edges of the transverse spans were designed to be isolated from the steelwork
bridge superstructure to avoid the deck torsion effects being transferred to the staircases. A
detailed 3-dimensional plate model of the entire bridge was created to analyse the stress flow, the
concentration of stresses, and effects of dynamic loading and to study the behaviour of all
structural members in detail as well as determining the precamber diagrams for each box girder
web.

2.2. 3-D Finite Element Model and Design Validation

A detailed 3-dimensional shell plate model helped to understand the overall as well as local flow
of stresses along the longitudinal and transverse directions of the bridge deck, especially at the
four corners. It was observed that the bending and torque transferred from the longitudinal
curved spans of the bridge resulted in high concentration of stress at the junctions with the
transverse spans. This model helped the design team to fix the plate and rib dimensions and the
spacing at the corners. Furthermore, the 3-D model was able to accurately capture the magnitude
of rotation of all the spans based on which, the required camber design information was
produced.

Fig. 3. High concentration of stresses at the corner

2.3. Dynamic Analysis

Pedestrian Dynamics Analysis was specifically complex and required detailed design using
discrete finite element analysis (3D line model) where the steelwork superstructure, concrete
substructure and piled foundations were modelled. This allowed the determination of all critical
pedestrian induced vibration modes in longitudinal, transverse and vertical directions, based on
the vibration analysis flowchart from SETRA (SETRA, 2006).

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 Bridge Engineering Institute Conference 2023 (BEI-2023)
Rome, Italy, July 17-20, 2023

1st Mode 2nd Mode 3rd Mode

Fig. 4. Critical pedestrian induced vibration modes

3. Conclusions
1) Orthotropic box girders can be successfully used for light-weight long-span bridges with
complex shapes. Decks and webs were typically made up of 16-20mm plates and ribs with 8-
10mm plates.
2) 3-dimesnional plate model helped to accurately capture the intricate details with respect to
stress flow, concentration of stresses and displacement/rotation of each structural element. This
helped to arrive at optimum member sizes and required camber.

4. References
AASHTO. 2007. AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials.

AISC. 1963. Design Manual for Orthotropic Steel Plate Deck Bridges, American Institute of
Steel Construction.

Bethlehem Steel Corporation. 1981. Designer’s Guide to Steel Box Girder Bridges.

Dung, C. V., Sasaki, E., Tajima, K. and Suzuki, T. 2015. International Journal of Steel Structures,
15, 299-310.

FHWA. 2012. Manual for Design, Construction and Maintenance of Orthotropic Steel Deck
Bridges, US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.

NSBA. 2005. Practical Steel Tub Girder Design, National Steel Bridge Alliance.

SETRA. 2006. Technical Guide - Footbridges Assessment of Vibrational Behaviour of

Footbridges under Pedestrian Loading, Service D'études Techniques des Routes et Autoroutes.

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