Finite strip analysis of multi-span box girder bridges by using non-periodic B-spline interpolation

A multi-span bridge has the peak value of resultant girder moment or membrane stress at theinterior support. In this paper, the spline finite strip method (FSM) is modified to obtain the moreappropriate solution at the interior support where the peak values of solution exist. The modification hasbeen achieved by expressing the shape function with non-periodic B-splines which have multiple knots atthe boundary. The modified B-splines have the useful feature for interpolating the curve with suddenchange in curvature. Moreover, the modified spline FSM is very efficient in analyzing multi-span boxgirder bridges, since a bridge can be modeled by an assembly of strips extended along the entire bridgelength. Numerical examples of the bridge analysis have been performed to verify the efficiency andaccuracy of the new spline FSM.