Computer analysis of thin-walled concrete box beams

SHAHBAZ
MAVADDAT
Quinn Dressel Associates, Suite 865, 1801 McCill College, Montrtal, Que., Canada H3A 2N4
AND
M. SAEEDMIRZA
Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics, McCill University, 817 Sherbrooke Street West, Montrtal, Que.,
Canada H3A 2K6
Received December 12, 1988
Revised manuscript accepted June 2, 1989

Three computer programs, written in FORTRAN WATFIV, are developed to analyze straight, monolithically cast, symmetric
concrete box beams with one, two, or three cells and side cantilevers over a simple span or over two spans with symmetric
mid-span loadings. The analysis, based on Maisel's formulation, is performed in three stages. First, the structure is idealized as a
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beam and the normal and shear stresses are calculated using the simple bending theory and St-Venant's theory of torsion. The
secondary stresses arising from torsional and distortional warping and shear lag are calculated in the second and third stages,
respectively. The execution times on an AMDAHL 580 system are 0.02, 0.93, and 0.25 s for the three programs, respectively.
The stresses arising in each stage of analysis are then superposed to determine the overall response of the box section to the
applied loading. The results are compared with Maisel's hand calculations.
Key words: bending, bimoment, box beam, computer analysis, FORTRAN, shear, shear lag, thin-walled section, torsion,
torsional and distortional warping.

Trois programmes informatiques a g e s en FORTRAN WATFIV ont it6 Clabores afin d'analyser des poutres-caissons symetriques
en biton coulk, ayant une, deux et trois cellules, ainsi que des porte-i-faux latCraux sur une travCe simple ou sur deux travkes
avec chargements symttriques au milieu. Cette analyse a CtC r6alisCe en trois phases et elle est bade sur la formule de Maisel.
Dans un premier temps, la structure est idCalisee sous forme de poutre et les contraintes normales et de cisaillement sont
calcul&esii l'aide de la simple thCorie de flexion et de la theorie de Saint-Venant. Les contraintes secondaires qui dkcoulent du
gauchissement de torsion et du gauchissement de distorsion ainsi que du retard de cisaillement sont calcultes lors de la deuxieme
For personal use only.

et de la troisibme phase respectivement. Les temps d'exkcution sur le systeme AMDAHL 580 sont de 0,02,0,93 et 0,25 s pour les
trois programmes. Les contraintes enregistrees i chaque phase d'analyse sont ensuite superposees pour determiner la rkponse
globale de la section en caisson aux charges appliquees. Les rtsultats sont compares aux calculs de Maisel.
Mots clts : flexion, bimoment, peutre-caisson, analyse par ordinateur, FORTRAN, cisaillement, dklai de cisaillement, section
i murs de faible epaisseur, torsion, gauchissement de torsion et de distorsion.
[Traduit par la revue]
Can. J. Civ. Eng. 16,902-909 (1989)

Introduction This paper focusses on the physical understanding of the

Box girder bridges have been used extensively over the past
three decades, especially in urban areas where aesthetics is a
major consideration. The behaviour response of a box section to
applied loads is quite complex. The designer can either choose
minimum material thickness, reinforcement, web spacing, and
diaphragm locations so that the response of the box section
approaches that of a simple beam, thus rendering the secondary
stresses due to torsional and distorsional warping and shear lag
insignificant, or resort to refined methods of analysis (Soliman
1978) such as the finite element method, the folded plate
method, the finite strip method, and the equivalent beam or the
grillage method. The choice is not obvious and requires
judgement and experience in the interpretation of the codes,
which can be quite time consuming and expensive. Therefore,
an understanding of the physical behaviour of a box beam is
essential before a suitable approach for analysis and design can
be adopted.
The engineering theories of bending and torsion are not
adequate to evaluate the response of box beams, which often
involves torsional and distortional warping and shear lag. This
is recognized in the commentary to the Ontario Highway Bridge
Design Code (1983). The earlier work of Maisel and Roll (1974)
accounts for some of these effects.
NOTE:Written discussion of this paper is welcomed and will be
received by the Editor until April 30, 1990 (address inside front cover).
complex structural behaviour of box beams, based on the elastic
analysis proposed by Maisel and Roll (1974) and Maisel (1982).
Using this basis, three computer programs are developed for the
analysis of symmetrical box beams consisting of one to three
cells with side cantilevers, over a simple span or two symmetric
spans with symmetric concentrated mid-span loads. In develop-
ing the computer programs, Vlasov's generalized coordinate
method (1961) is utilized and the simple beam theory is
extended to include the effects of torsional and distortional
warping and shear lag.
The input required is simple and consists of the box beam
geometry and a few other quantities pertinent to distortion and
shear-lag analyses. As the theoretical treatment gives rise to
small matrices, the programs require small storage capacity.
The volume of the computer output is not large and the
combined execution time for the three programs is just over 1 s
on an AMDAHL 580 system, thus making them ideal for
interactive use on an office terminal for performing parametric
studies or quantifying the actual behaviour of box beams. As the
emphasis of this paper is on the computer programs, the basic
theory is not described in detail. These and other relevant details
can be found in the works of Maisel and Roll (1974), Maisel
(1982, 1986), Mavaddat (1984), and Trieu (1984). The latter
two references include complete listings of the three computer
programs and three solved examples (one-cell, single-span;
two-cell, two-span; and three-cell, single-span box sections).
 MAVADDAT AND MIRZA
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FIG. 1. Torsional loading of a simply supported box beam (Maisel and Roll 1974): (a) torsional and distortional warping; (---) undeflected form
of structure, (---) deflected form of structure with rigid transverse diaphragms all along the span, (-) deflected form of structure after removal
of diaphragms between supports; (b) twisting of mid-span cross section without distortion; ( c ) additional twisting bf mid-span cross section when
For personal use only.

distortion is permitted.

(cl
&
LI FIG. 3. Distortional modes of deflection for a three-cell box beam
(Maisel 1982).

FIG. 2. Warping force group and bimoment (Maisel 1982): (a)
warping force group (four forces equal in magnitude); (b) positive
bimoment (shown using horizontal axis); (c) positive bimoment
(shown using vertical axis).
These results are compared with those obtained by Maisel
(1982) using a hand calculator and the finite strip theory.
Simple bending and St-Venant torsion
The engineering theory of bending is used to calculate the
normal and shearing stresses due to flexure in a box beam
section. Under pure bending, there are no axial forces or
torsional moments at any section. Shearing stresses due to
torsion are calculated using St-Venant's torsional theory, which
assumes that cross-sections maintain their shape under applied
twisting moments; however, they can warp freely.
Torsional warping
When one or more cross-sections are forced to remain plane,
that is, they are not free to warp under a torsional load, warping
stresses result and such torsion is referred to as warping or
nonuniform torsion. Figure 1a shows a simply supported beam
subjected to a twisting moment at its mid-span. Torsional
warping analysis is based on the assumption that the cross
section does not distort in its own plane (Fig. lb) and thus
distortional warping displacements are neglected (Fig. lc). A
(a (b)
-TI-
(c 1
FIG. 4. Modes of distortions (schematic) for various box beam
sections (Maisel 1982): (a) one cell; (b) two cells; (c) three cells.
box beam whose cross section is not permitted to distort
develops its torsional resistance as a combination of the
torsional moment caused by the St-Venant torsional shear
stresses and that caused by the torsional warping shear stresses.
The moment due to torsional warping shear stresses is maxi-
mum near the section where warping is restrained, and it
decreases toward the regions where the cross section is free to
warp. The torsional warping (longitudinal) stresses and torsion-
al warping shear stresses are obtained in terms of the applied
twisting moment, the bimoment, the section properties expres-
sed as the normalized sectorial coordinate for torsional warping,
and the torsional warping moment of inertia. The longitudinal
warping and the torsional warping shear stresses associated with
torsional warping have zero longitudinal force and zero moment
resultants, respectively (Mavaddat 1984). Therefore, they can
be represented by a statically equivalent warping force couple
 CAN. J. CIV. ENG. VOL. 16, 1989

Flange/Web
Interaction
Forces Web Plate

Amplified Stress at
Edge of Flange
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FIG. 5. Typical nonuniform stress distribution due to shear lag (Evans and Taherian 1978).
For personal use only.

FIG. 6. Basic warping displacement functions for shear-lag analysis (Maisel 1982).

system shown in Fig. 2a. These four forces are equal in
magnitude and cause the warping displacement pattern shown in
Fig. 1. It is normally more convenient to deal with a pair of
equal and opposite moments in parallel planes (Fig. 26). Such a
self-equilibrating system of zero force and zero moment
resultants is termed the bimoment with the positive sense shown
in Fig. 2c. This torsional warping analysis is based on the
formulations developed by Kollbrunner and Hajdin (1966) and
Heilig (1961), and is detailed by Mavaddat (1984).
Distortional effects
Distortional effects consists of distortional warping and
transverse bending as shown in Fig. l a and lc. These
distortional effects must be superimposed upon the effects of
torsional warping and longitudinal bending. Analysis of distor-
tional effects is based on the following assumptions: (a) shear
deformations in the planes of walls are neglected and (b)
individual walls of the box beam behave as simple beams
longitudinally when they undergo distortional warping. Twist-
ing of individual walls resulting from distortion is governed by
the St-Venant's torsion theory. More than one mode of
distortion is possible in the various cross sections. Figure 3
shows these independent modes for a three-cell cross section.
The basic modes of distortion for some selected cross sections
are summarized in Fig. 4.
As in the case of iorsional warping, the resistance of the
structure to distortional deformations consists of warping
resistance, torsional resistance, and transverse bending resis-
tance of a frame of the same shape as the cross section.
Distortional warping effects are evaluated using the analogy of
beam on elastic foundations subjected to a vertical loading,
using the formulations of Sedlacek (1968, 1969). The principle
of orthogonalization (transformation of axes) is used to uncou-
ple the governing generalized fourth-order differential equation
for simplicity of solutions. More details on the theoretical
formulations and computer implementation have been presen-
ted by Maisel and Roll (1974), Maisel (1982), Mavaddat
(1984), and Trieu (1984).
 MAVADDAT AND MIRZA
Shear-lag effects
Bending stresses are calculated assuming that plane sections
remain plane after bending. However, this assumption is not
always true and inaccuracies arise because of the shear-lag
effects. In a box section subjected to vertical loads, the shear
deformations within the flange result in a nonuniform distribu-
tion of the longitudinal stresses across the flange width as shown
in Fig. 5. This phenomenon is termed shear lag.
In treating shear-lag effects in thin-walled sections, the
simple bending theory has been extended by allowing shear
deformations in the plane of the walls. Figure 6 shows
qualitatively the kind of functions that might be selected for
flange stress variations in one-, two-, and three-cell cross
sections, symmetric about their vertical axis, subjected to
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longitudinal bending without torsion and are chosen for each
portion of the cross section requiring shear-lag analysis.
Parabolic warping functions are used in the present work to
represent the shear-lag displacements. The theoretical formula-
tion is based on the work of Roik and Sedlacek (1969, 1970) and
Schmackpfeffer (1972) and the comprehensive summary by
Maisel and Roll (1974) and Maisel (1982). Maisel (1986)
extended his earlier work on box beam analysis using the
thin-walled beam theory to provide an analytical explanation for
the occurrence of reversed shear lag, associated, for example,
with flange prestressing, in which the longitudinal shear stresses
in the flanges are higher away from the webs than at the webs.
These effects are not considered in the present computer
programs. The generalized fourth-order differential equation
For personal use only.
governing shear lag is of the same mathematical form as the
equation for an ordinary beam and can be solved using ordinary
beam statics for each shear-lag mode using a separate equivalent
beam.
Computer programs
Maisel and Roll (1974) and Maisel (1982) used their method
to perform detailed calculations using a hand-held calculator to
analyze different box section beams. The computer programs
developed by Mavaddat (1984), Mavaddat and Mirza (1987),
and Trieu (1984) using FORTRAN WATFIV language incorporate
all of the long and tedious manual calculations in Maisel's
solved examples. They are easy to use and inexpensive. In
addition, the small volume of output enables interactive use of a
terminal, making it suitable for implementation on smaller
systems.
The first computer program evaluates simple bending and
St-Venant torsion effects. The second program calculates the
torsional and distortional effects, while the third program
computes the shear-lag effects. The flow charts for these
programs are shown in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively.
As mentioned previously, the method gives rise only to small
matrices, and therefore little storage capacity is required. Some
of the matrices are replaced by small one-dimensional arrays,
thus leaving only a few small matrices throughout the program,
which results in further savings in terms of storage requirements
and computer time. The computer programs can be applied to
box beams with cross sections having a maximum of three cells
and a maximum of two symmetrical spans with a vertical axis of
symmetry and subjected to a mid-span concentrated load
applied at the outer web-flange junction. To minimize the
computer storage requirements, the symmetry of the cross
section about its vertical center line is utilized effectively and,
I
I n p u t Required Data
Evaluate Sectional
Properties
Moments a n d S h e a r Forces
Evaluate Maximum Bending
Stresses
4
Evaluate Statically Determinate
S h e a r Flows
1
Evaluate Statically I n d e t e r m i n a t e
S h e a r Flows
1
Add t h e Determinate a n d I n d e t e r m i n a t e S h e a r Flows
to Obtain t h e Longitudinal S h e a r Stress
Repeat t h e Previous Three Steps t o Calculate
St-Venant's Torsional S h e a r Stresses
FIG. 7. Flow chart for simple bending and St-Venant torsion.
therefore, most quantities are evaluated over half of the cross
section only.
The program for the analysis of simple bending and St-
Venant torsion (309 statements) requires a maximum of 0.02 s
in execution time, while the programs for the analysis of
torsional and distortional warping and shear-lag effects (2049
statements) use a maximum of 1.06 s in execution time. Double-
precision arithmetic is used in the programs to avoid difficulties
arising from ill-conditioned equations.
Comparison with Maisel's solved examples
A number of examples have been worked out by hand by
Maisel and Roll (1974) and Maisel (1982). These include
analysis of stresses for one- to three-cell box beams, which were
also analyzed by Mavaddat (1984) and Trieu (1984). Excellent
agreement was noted in the results; however, the results of only
one example are presented for illustrating the application and
the accuracy of the programs. Figures 9-12 summarize the
results from analyses by Maisel, Mavaddat, and Trieu for a
two-cell, two-span beam, showing the loading, the geometry,
and the final stresses. The results obtained by Maisel using the
finite strip method are also shown for comparison. As expected,
the results obtained by the computer programs agree precisely
with Maisel's detailed hand-calculation results represented by
solid lines in Figs. 10-12. There is satisfactory agreement
between the finite strip results and the computed and Maisel's
hand-calculated results. The discrepancy between some of the
values is due to the shear-lag effects, which were not considered
 CAN. J. CIV. ENG. VOL. 16, 1989

DISTORTION
The Problem

t
Input Required Data
t
Evaluate Warping Vectors a s
Applicable
f
P r i n t Input for Verificatioi~ .f
Evaluate t h e Frame
f Stiffness Matrix
Calculate the Angle of Inclination
of Inclined Webs t
f Perform First Stage of
Orthogonalization
Calculate t h e Cross-Sectional Areas
4
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of Individual Webs a n d Flanges

Perform Second Stage of

Orthogonalization

.f
Stresses d u e t o Dead a n d Live
Evaluate Sectorial Coordinate with Loads a r e Evaluated Using Beam
Respect to Center of Gravity on Elastic Foundation Analogy

f C
Evaluate Torsional Warping Evaluate Local Transverse
Sectional Properlies Bending Stress d u e to Dead Load

4
For personal use only.

Evaluate Sectorial C o o r d ~ n a t e s SHEAR LAG

with Respecl to Shear Center
7
i Evaluate Basic Shear Lag
Warping Vector
Evaluate Torsional Moment of Inertia
by Numerical Intergration Over t h e
t
+
Cross-Sectional Area
Evaluate Basic Shear Lag

Evaluate Longitudinal Stresses,

St-Venant Shear Stresses and
Torsional Warping Shear Stresses +
Warping Stiffness

+
Evaluate Basic Shear Lag Shear Stiffness

Perform First and Second Stage of Orthogonalization

i
Evaluate t h e Sectional Properties i n Shear Lag
Warping Stiffness and Shear Lag Shear Stiffness

t
Evaluate Shear Lag Warping Vector a n d Column Vectors

i
Evaluate t h e Solutions of t h e Analogous Beam Problem for Shear Lag
Effects for Concentrated Live Load, Distributed Dead Load, Axial Load.
Flexural Rigidity a n d Shear Lag Stresses d u e to Live a n d Dead Load
i

FIG. 8. Flow chart for torsional and distortional warping and shear lag.
 MAVADDAT AND MIRZA

30m 30m
I.

lCOO K N ELEVATION
I
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SECTION A-A
FIG. 9. Loading and geometry details (Maisel 1982).

9.39 -theory prewnted h e m

l8.701--- finite atrip theory
For personal use only.

FIG. 10. Dead- and live-load stresses (MPa) (Maisel 1982): ( a )longitudinal stress at Z = 15 000 mm; ( b )shear stress on positive face of section
Z = 15000mm.

in the webs. Maisel noted that these results can be improved by
considering the web shear-lag effects.
Conclusions
The computer programs summarized in this paper are based
on Maisel and Roll's (1974) and Maisel's (1982) theoretical
work. The results of the computer programs agree excellently
with the results of Maisel and his co-worker for the two-cell,
two-span, box girder bridge example. Similar agreement was
noted for the other box section beams analyzed by Maisel
(Mavaddat 1984; Trieu 1984).
The use of the thin-walled beam theory greatly facilitates the
physical understanding of the complex box beam behaviour.
Also, since the equilibrium checks are incorporated in the
analysis, lower bounds for collapse loads can be determined
easily for use in any limit states design. The minimal computing
time involved in using these programs is an encouraging sign for
researchers and practitioners to extend the programs to simulate
truck loads for use with the actual design codes to conduct
parametric studies and for the construction of influence lines. In
an extensive study of single-cell, straight, single- or multi-span
structures subjected to realistic patterns of concentrated or
uniform vehicular loading, Waldron (1986) demonstrated the
significance of wall thickness, cross-sectional geometry, girder
configuration, and loading in estimating the effects of torsional
warping. The programs presented here can be used to undertake
similar studies for multi-cell, multi-span box beams for the
assessment of the significance of distortional warping, shear
 CAN. J. CIV. ENG. VOL. 16, 1989

4.08 -theory presented here

C3.831 - - - finite strip theory
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FIG. 11. Transverse bending stresses (MPa) (Maisel 1982); (a) live-load stress; (b) dead-load stress.

8.34 - theory presented here

[a.331 - - - finlte strip theory
For personal use only.

(a 1
8.34 8.71 6.64
[8.331 [8.801 [5.811
-----t
--- -- 7- - ---------
I
T
/

I
,-A----&
/4 I I

- 13.58 -10.87 .
-B Q8
[-13.871 [-10.44) [-I 1.581

FIG.12. Dead- and live-load stresses (MPa) at the central support (Maisel 1982): (a) longitudinal stress at Z = 30 000mm; (b) shear stress on
positive face of section Z = 30 000mm.

lag, and torsional warping. Furthermore, with the recent
advances in the field of personal computers, interactive design
procedures based on these computers can be developed.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation
for the generous assistance of Dr. B. I. Maisel of the British
Cement and Concrete Association, whose research on box
section beams forms the basis of the present work. The work of
Mr. Bang Trieu on the analysis of shear-lag effects in box
sections is incorporated in this paper. The authors are thankful
to McGill University, Montreal, for providing the necessary
computing time for the development of the computer programs.
The continuing assistance of the Natural Sciences and Engineer-
ing Research Council to the ongoing research programs at
McGill University is also gratefully acknowledged. The authors
would also like to thank Messrs James Raposo and Andrew Ng
for their assistance with the preparation of illustrations.
 MAVADDAT AND MIRZA
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shear-lag effects in box girders. Proceedings of the Institution of
Civil Engineers, Part 2: Research and Theory, 63: 69-92.
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cross-sectional shape. (In German.) Der Stahlbau, 30(11): 333-349;
31(2): 64, 1962; 31(4): 128, 1962. English translation: British
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KOLLBRUNNER, and HAJDIN.1966. Warping torsion of thin-walled
beams of closed section. (In German.) Verlag Schweizer, Stahlbau-
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For personal use only.
909
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Stahlbau, 35(12): 383-384.
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storage computer capacity. Research Report, Department of Civil
Engineering and Applied Mechanics, McGill University, MontrCal,
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VLASOV,V. Z. 1961. Thin-walled elastic beams. National Science
Foundation, Washington, DC.
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of concrete box girder bridges. Proceedings of the Second Canadian
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Medium Span Bridges, Ottawa, Ont., Vol. 2, pp. 261-275.