Introduction. The issue of calculation of an arched road structure made of corrugated metal on the basis of numerical modeling using the finite element method (FEM) using the actual cross-sectional parameters of metal corrugated structures (MCS) is considered.
Problem Statement. In past years, for the calculations and tests of road constructions from MCS, a simple rectangular cross-section, equivalent in terms of bending stiffness to a corrugated profile, was considered. This was adopted to simplify calculations and research. Such an approach is also used in modern norms for the design of buildings with MCS. But this is not quite a correct simplification.
Purpose. To show the possibility to avoid unnecessary convention and simplification of the calculation scheme and to obtain more correct and more informative results of the calculation of structures with MCS.
Research methods and results. The purpose and tasks are realized by calculation-theoretical analysis and numerical modeling according to FEM using a specific example of calculating a road structure (small bridge) from the MCS.
The calculation model is made according to the actual shape of the corrugations, without switching to the conventional simple rectangular cross-section of the arch elements, which are equivalent in terms of bending stiffness. The main design condition for strength in this work is the condition that the design load does not exceed the bearing capacity of the arch, as a component of the «building-soil» system.The bearing capacity of the structure in this work is considered as the sum of the arch's own bearing capacity (outside the soil) and the addition, which is provided by the elastic support of the embankment soil in response to the movement of the arch toward the soil. To determine the addition of bearing capacity due to soil resistance, the arch model is adopted as a «mechanism» with full hinges in the places of the greatest stresses and deformations of the arch. The geometric stability of the "mechanism" is ensured by additional rods that simulate the soil support by moving the arch. The forces in these rods must be corresponding to the equivalent resistance of the soil. The bearing capacity supplement is defined as the load on the arch, at which the forces in the additional rods are equal to the equivalent soil resistance of the embankment by the permissible movement of the arch toward the soil.
Conclusions. It is shown that it is possible to perform the calculation of the road structure from the MCS, taking into account the actual parameters of the cross-section of the elements, with obtaining more correct and more informative results (in particular, with the determination of the distribution of stresses in the sections of the corrugations), as well as the proposed basis for further research and development of proposals for supplementing and correcting norms for the design of such structures.
