The Use of BS 5400: Part 3: 1982: The Highways Agency Ba 19/85
The Use of BS 5400: Part 3: 1982: The Highways Agency Ba 19/85
The Use of BS 5400: Part 3: 1982: The Highways Agency Ba 19/85
Summary: This Departmental Advice Note gives guidance on the use of BS 5400: Part 3
for the design of highway bridges in steel.
VOLUME 1 HIGHWAY
STRUCTURES:
APPROVAL
PROCEDURES AND
GENERAL DESIGN
SECTION 3 GENERAL DESIGN
BA 19/85
Contents
Chapter
1. Scope
2. General
3. Analysis of Structure
4. General Guidance
5. References
6. Enquiries
1. SCOPE
The Advice Note gives advice on and clarification of certain aspects of clauses in BS 5400: Part 3. It should be read in
conjunction with Departmental Standard BD 13/82. A design example of a 20m span simply supported composite
highway bridge is included in an Appendix and illustrates in detail the use of the relevant clauses in Part 3. A more
general treatment of the complete design of such a bridge to BS 5400 is given in the design guide published by
CONSTRADO.
2. GENERAL
BS 5400: Part 3 has been drafted to cover the design of most elements found in steel bridges. It is known, however, that
a number of aspects are not covered, eg truss type support diaphragms and intermediate plated diaphragms for box
girders, steel castings, steel cables etc. Where it is necessary to use these, or any other form of element that is clearly
outside the scope of BS 5400: Part 3, the designers should discuss their use with the Technical Approval Authority in
accordance with the Departmental Standard BD 2/79. The clauses referred to in this Advice Note are those in BS 5400:
Part 3.
3. ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURE
3.1 Stress Analysis
In continuous beams, or in beams where the cross section changes, it is possible to get a critical section which is
compact and another which is non-compact. For checking any section, design clauses appropriate to the particular
section under consideration should be used. The design clauses for non-compact sections will however always give a
conservative result when applied to a compact section.
It should be noted that in staged construction a beam may be compact in the final structure but non-compact at an earlier
stage. In checking the member for different stages of construction, the design clauses appropriate to the stage being
considered, should be used.
4. GENERAL GUIDANCE
4.1 Values of Partial Safety Factors, Clause 4.3.3
When considering the weight of formwork in the various stages of construction of a composite bridge the value of the
partial safety factor (fL given in clause 5.9.1.2 of BS 5400: Part 2 shall be used both for application and removal effects.
At the serviceability limit state the partial safety factor should be taken as 1.0. For bending resistance of non compact
sections, the permanent stresses in the steel member due to formwork should be included in all load combinations.
4.2.1 When applying figure 9 to obtain "0" it is possible to obtain a value of ‘MA /MM ’ greater than + 1.0, eg where
intermediate restraints are provided on a simply supported beam. Where ‘MA /MM ’ is greater than + 1.0 the value of "0"
should be taken as 1.0.
4.2.2 In note 2 of clause 9.7.2, rules are given for determining the equivalent thickness of a concrete flange. In
determining "tf" as defined in clause 9.7.2 the thickness of a composite flange should be taken as the thickness of the
steel plate plus the equivalent thickness of the concrete section as given in Note 2. The thickness of the tension flange
in the negative moment region of the composite beam should be taken as the thickness of the steel plate plus the
equivalent thickness of the tension reinforcement.
4.3 Transverse web stiffeners other than at support, Clause 9.13 Load bearing support stiffeners, Clause 9.14
The connections between the webs and the stiffeners should be designed for an assumed shear equal to 2.5% of the sum
of the axial forces in the web stiffeners. The load effects to be considered in calculating the axial forces are given in
clauses 9.13.3.1 and 9.14.3.1.
Notwithstanding the requirements of clause 3.1 of BD 13/82, the provision of symmetrical stiffeners, though desirable,
is not mandatory.
Clause 14.5.3.4 allows the use of the bolt shank area to be taken as the shear area. For bolts other than turned barrel
bolts, this should only be adopted where it can be ensured that the threaded length is clear of the shear planes eg where
the bolt dimensions are clearly shown on the drawings. Allowance should always be made for the tolerances on the
threaded length.
For HSFG bolts in accordance with BS 4395: Parts 1 and 2, it is desirable to have a reasonable thread length within the
grip length of the bolt, as the major proportion of bolt extension takes place in this length. When checked for their shear
capacity, therefore, in accordance with 14.5.4.1.1 (b) the shear planes should always be assumed to pass through the
threaded length.
Design studies on the shear capacity of HSFG bolts acting in friction have shown that, for bolts in accordance with BS
4395: Part 1 for diameters M16 to M30 in normal clearance holes in plate plies exceeding 10mm, the friction capacity at
the serviceability limit state will almost always be more critical than the bearing and shear capacity at the ultimate limit
state. Beyond these ranges it will be necessary to check the bolt capacities at both limit states.
The value of µ = 0.5, for blast cleaned surfaces should only be taken where the quality of finish is as specified in the
Department's Specification for Road and Bridgeworks; ie 1st quality to BS 4232. The value of µ = 0.45 should be
adopted for other qualities of blast cleaned surfaces. Departmental Standard BD 7/81 specifies a 3rd quality blast
cleaning to BS 4232 for weathering steel, and the lower value of µ should be used for this material.
5. REFERENCES
The documents listed below are referred to in this Advice Note. Where reference is made to any part of BS 5400, this
shall be taken as reference to that part as implemented by the Departmental Standard.
7. Departmental Standard BD 2/79: Technical Approval of highway structures on Trunk Roads (including
motorways)
9. BS 4395: Specification for high strength friction grip bolts Part 1: 1969 General Grade
10. Specification for Road and Bridge Works (1976 Edition) and Supplement No 1: 1978.. Published by
HMSO
11. BS 4232: 1967 Surface Finish of Blast Cleaned Steel for Painting
12. Nash, G F J: Steel bridge design guide. Composite universal beam simply supported span, Constrado,
January 1984
This Appendix to the Advice Note contains calculations illustrating the combined use of Parts 3 and 5 of BS 5400 for
designing the structural steelwork of a 20m span two lane simply supported composite highway bridge.
The general arrangement of the bridge and its cross-section are shown in Figure 1. The dimensions indicated in Figure
1 were obtained from preliminary calculations that are not included in the Advice Note.
The general arrangement adopted for the design example is not necessarily the most economic solution or the one most
favoured. It is adopted solely to illustrate the various clauses in the codes.
The deck consists of six universal beams acting compositely with an insitu concrete deck slab. Shear connection is
achieved by means of stud shear connectors. The longitudinal beams are connected transversely by a reinforced
concrete beam and there are no other transverse connections within the span. An expansion joint is provided at one of
the supports.
A.2 SCOPE
a. an internal girder;
b. shear connectors;
c. bearing stiffeners.
The design of the transverse reinforced concrete member at the support has not been covered but the loadings are given.
Load effects due to dead and superimposed dead loads have been obtained by statically apportioning the load acting
over a width of slab equal to the spacing of the beams.
Load effects due to live load have been obtained by grillage analysis using section properties based on the gross
dimensions.
A.4 LOADING
All loads and load combinations are in accordance with BS 5400: Part 2 as implemented by the Departmental Standard
BD 14/82.
It is assumed that the effects of wind load (combination 2) secondary effects of live load (combination 4) and friction at
bearings (combination 5) do not influence the design of the deck. In the example, uniform changes in temperature do
not cause any stress since steel and concrete have the same coefficient of expansion and the supports allow movement in
the longitudinal direction. Combination 3 therefore comprises dead load, live load and effects due to temperature
differences.
Unpropped construction is assumed and the entire slab cast in one pour so that there is no composite action under dead
loads. The entire dead and live loads are carried by the compact composite section at both the serviceability and the
ultimate limit states.
The effective section is determined and checked for compliance with the requirements at the ultimate limit state at each
stage of construction, ie the initial steel section and the final composite section. The effects of shear lag are neglected
for ultimate limit state. The torsional stresses are found to be small and they have not been considered in the design.
...Relevant Clause No. 9.4.2
Since the beam is compact both in the initial stage as well as the final stage of construction and restrained laterally in
the final stage the effects due to creep, shrinkage and differential temperature and settlement of supports are also
neglected. ...Relevant Clause No. 9.2.1.3
The composite section is additionally checked for compliance with the serviceability requirements by treating the beam
as non-compact. For these calculations it is assumed that the settlement of supports is zero and the effects due to shear
lag, creep, shrinkage and differential temperature only are considered. The effective section is determined on the basis
of the shear lag factors taken from table 4 of Part 3. Torsional stresses being very small are neglected.
...Relevant Clause No. 9.9.8
The stud shear connectors are designed for serviceability loading and checked for compliance with the fatigue
requirements of Part 10. As the whole loading is taken on compact section at the ultimate limit state, the shear
connectors are additionally checked at the ultimate limit state.
The loads at the serviceability limit state include effects due to creep, shrinkage and temperature differences. The
longitudinal shear due to these loads is ignored since their effects tend to diminish those produced by the superimposed
dead and live loads.
The bearing stiffeners are designed to satisfy the buckling and yielding requirements at the ultimate limit state.
The transverse member at the support is a reinforced concrete beam connecting the longitudinal beams. A simpler
detail for erection would have been a steel cross beam connected to the bearing stiffeners, but studies of a particular
design have shown that a full penetration butt weld is required for the web/stiffener connection to ensure adequate
fatigue life.
The beam is designed for the ultimate limit state to resist the load effects due to 9.15.4.1(a). Some of the load effects
given in 9.15.4.1 eg items (c), (e), (f), (g) do not apply in this case because of the geometry of the bridge cross-section;
other effects eg items (b), (d) are considered to be small and therefore ignored. The transverse beam should be cast
before the deck slab.
12300
X
100mm Surfacing &
1 in 40 Waterproofing 225mm Slab 1 in 40
550
Service RC beam
duct 6 No. 914 x 305 x 253 kg/m UB
SECTION
Transverse
500
beam
Elastomeric
300 900 bearing
Materials
NOTE:
(1) Unless expressly stated all references are to BS 5400: Part 3 as amended by the Departmental Standard BD
13/82.
(2) The yield strength as per BS 4360 for universal beam with a flange plate thickness over 25 mm is 345 N/mm2 .
But for the sake of convenience the value adopted in this example is 355 N/mm2 .
(3) Grade 50 C steel has been selected on the basis of the notch ductility requirements of Part 3. The limiting
maximum thickness specified in it is 40 mm for UB section for an assumed design minimum temperature of -20EC.
...Relevant information Table 3 (b)
(4) The global analysis may be based on the long term value of the elastic modular ratio. But stress analysis should
be done with the modular ratio appropriate to the stage of construction. ...Relevant Clause 6.7
Effective section
A 914 × 305 × 253 kg/m UB is adopted on the basis of a preliminary analysis, having:
Compression web depth (yc) = 431.4 mm = 24.9tw < 28tw ...Relevant Clause 9.3.7.2.1
Use actual web thickness since yc < 68tw ... Relevant Clause 9.4.2.5.1 (a)
Flange outstand = 144.1mm = 5.2tfo < 7tfo ... Relevant Clause 9.3.7.3.1
Section is compact
Loading
The steel beam initially carries self-weight and the weight of the insitu concrete slab. Load effects summarised in Table
A2 have been combined in accordance with factors specified in Part 2. No allowance is made for the weight of the
formwork.
The beam has simple supports and is restrained against torsion and lateral displacement.
l e = 24960
A MM
B
0 = 0.941
The beam is satisfactory for self weight without bracings. However, temporary restraint is required to ensure lateral
stability when the beam carries the wet concrete. Therefore provide temporary restraint at midspan.
10400
Restraint
A
B
MM
MB =0
MM = MA/4
MD = (383)(115.5)/46.15 = 958 kN m
i.e., provision of a temporary restraint at midspan will ensure adequate lateral stability. Wind effects should be
considered at the erection stage but are not included in this example.
Shear Resistance
N = 20800/862.7 = 24.11
bfe = 152.8
VD = (17.3)(918.5)(205)/(1.05)(1.1) = 2820 kN
= 877 kN m
M > MR, VD = VR
Section is OK.
Composite section is also compact if shear connector spacing is in accordance with 9.3.7.3.3. Shear lag effects are
ignored and transformed width determined in accordance with 9.9.1.2. Section properties are summarised in Table A3.
Loading
The load effects of 9.2.1.2 are summarised in Table A2. Effects due to shrinkage and temperature need not be
considered for compact composite sections. ...Clause 9.2.1.3
Bending Resistance
Shear Resistance
Based on mfw for the smaller flange, shear resistance as for steel section ...Clause 9.9.2.2
Section is OK.
85.18
225
918.5
M > MR
Effective section
The effective breadth at midspan is determined using shear lag factors corresponding to midspan section given in Table
4 of Part 3. Section properties for short term and long term loading and for determining temperature and shrinkage
effects are summarised in Table A3.
Loading
Load effects of 9.2.3.2 are summarised in Table A2. Temperature and shrinkage effects are determined as specified in
5.4.2 to 5.4.3 of Part 5 ignoring shear lag effects. A sample calculation illustrating Table A4 is given below.
372.1
Level 5
Assumed
datum line
Composite 7
Ultimate 85.2 246.5 - 1.68 x 10 ...Clause 9.9.1.2
Serviceability - stresses 10 7
short term 309.5 292.4 1.18 x 10 1.38 x 10
9 7 ...Table 4
long term 154.8 386.2 9.90 x 10 1.31 x 10
...R = 0.944
- loads temperature 10 7
(short term modular ratio) 309.5 292.4 1.18 x 10 1.38 x 10
shrinkage (long term 9 7
modular ratio) 154.8 386.2 9.90 x 10 1.31 x 10
-6
Shrinkage slab 200 x 10 -1512.0 112.5 273.7 -413.8
NOTE: (1) The strain is due to the restraining of deformation of the slab and the beam.
(2) Forces specified are restraining forces required to prevent any movement of the slab and the beam.
(3) The lever arm is measured from the C.G of the composite beam to the line of action of the restraining
force.
(4) The moment is applied at the C.G of the composite section.
The stresses in the bottom flange are checked for loading specified in 9.2.3.2 treating the section as non compact.
...Clause 9.9.8
This is shown in Table A5. The allowable tensile stress is determined in accordance with 9.9.7. ...Clause 9.9.5.2
7
Super Dead 373.8 1.31 x 10 28.53
Shrinkage 4
- force -1512.0 (6.82 x 10) -22.17
7
- moment 413.8 1.31 x 10 31.59
Differential temperature
positive difference 5
- axial force 1,056.2 (1.04 x 10) 10.16 ignored
7
- moment -208.64 1.38 x 10 -15.12 ignored
reverse difference 5
- force 1169.0 (1.04 x 10) 11.24 ignored
l7
- moment 169.8 1.38 x 10 -12.30 ignored
7
Live (Combination 1) 2619.1 1.38 x 10 191.20
7
Live (Combination 3) 2381.0 1.38 x 10 173.80
The fatigue assessment is carried out without damage calculation in accordance with clause 8.2 of BS 5400: Part 10 as
the following conditions apply: ...Clause 8.2 of Part 10
Midspan section
The detail assumed for the parent metal in the bottom flange (non-welded) is class B. ...Table 8 of Part 10
Since the detail assumed is near the midspan the effect of any impact at the support is minimal and has been ignored.
The load effects due to the standard fatigue vehicle are: ...Clause 7.2.4 of Part 10
Since the shear stress is less than 15% of the direct stress this can be ignored. ...Clause 6.2.2 of Part 10
Loading
Shear connectors are designed to resist serviceability loads. As the whole loading is taken on the compact section at the
ultimate limit state, they are also checked for the ultimate limit state. ...Clause 5.3.3.5 Part 5
Longitudinal Shear
Longitudinal shears are determined in accordance with 5.3.1 and 5.4.2.3 of Part 5. Calculation of longitudinal shears is
shown in Tables A6 and A7. Where the effects due to temperature and shrinkage are opposite to that produced due to
vertical loads they are ignored in the design of shear connectors. A summary of the design shears is contained in Table
A8.
Effect Axial Stress Bending Stress Total Stress Force (kN) Net
(N/mm²) (N/mm²) (N/mm²) Force
(kN)
Shrinkage 22.17 11.44 33.61 1171 `
Restraining -1512 -341 ignored
Temperature
*
+ve differ (1) -12.95 -4.97 -17.92 -749
(2) -12.95 -2.48 -15.43 -430
Restraining 1230 51
Table A7 Calculation of longitudinal shears due to dead, super dead and live load (unfactored)
q Serviceability Combination 1 & 3 Ultimate Combination 1
Loading
(kN/m) (fl q (kN/m) (fl q (kN/m)
Dead load:
Steel ) 14.7 1.05 15.4
)
Concrete ) 76.5 1.15 88
Live load
Combination 1 705.0 1.10 775.5 1.30 916.5
Since the entire load is taken by the final cross section, ...Clause 9.9.5.1
it is necessary to check the static strength of the shear connectors at the ultimate limit state. ...Clause 6.1.3 Part 5
For shear connectors the design stresses for fatigue in the weld metal attaching shear connectors is calculated in
accordance with the clause 6.4.2 of Part 10.
Fatigue loading
The stress range in the weld is determined on the basis of the standard fatigue vehicle. Maximum unfactored shears
obtained are as follows: ...Clause 7.2.2.2 Part 10
As there is an expansion joint at the support, shears obtained above include impact allowance of 25% and 16% for the
two axles within 5 m of the support. ...Clause 7.2.4 Part 10
Fatigue Assessment
The rigorous procedure of 8.4 in Part 10 cannot be used since damage charts exclude class S details. The simplified
procedure of 8.2 is therefore used. Details of calculations are summarised in Table A9. Longitudinal shears are
obtained as for live load shown in Table A7 using section properties corresponding to short term loading given in Table
A3.
Weld Stress
q Stress Range
Location Max Min
(kN/m) (N/mm²)
(N/mm²) (N/mm²)
Mid-span 47.2 17.2 -17.2 34.4 < 59 N/mm²
Support 126.5 46.2 0 46.2 < 54 N/mm²
(2) Limiting stress range determined from figure 8(d) for class S. L is taken as 10.4 m at mid-span and 20.8 m
at the support (see D.4.4 Part 10)
Effective Section
Provide single leg stiffener size 120 × 15 mm. The effective width of web acting as a stiffener is governed by the web
thickness. Stiffener properties are as follows: ...Clause 9.14.2.1
15 120
X X
Area = 13177 mm 120
4
Ix = 21.52 x 10 mm 276.8 276.8
4
Iy = 245 x 10 mm Y
3
Zx = 1.67 x 10 mm
3
Zy = 8.85 x 10 mm
Loading
(3) Mx = 22.8 kN m
[Note: Mx is due to the U-frame action of the bearing stiffener and the cross-beam. Mx due to transverse beam at the
support is very small and therefore ignored.
Mx = (54.6)(918.5-500)/1000 = 22.8 kN m]
= 130.2 N/mm2
JR = 73.6 N/mm2
At support σa = σb = 0
Stiffener is satisfactory
Yielding of stiffener
Bearing stress
Bearing stiffener
233.2
25
Determine σls
25
ls = 862.7 mm 50 Elastomeric
bearing
Bearing
rse = ((21.52)(10)6/(13177))½ =40.41 mm plate
8 = 862.7/40.41 = 21.4
< 0.76
The stiffener section is satisfactory.
The transverse beams at the supports are concrete beams (600x500) connecting the webs of the main beams.
The loadings for the design are as follows:
The design of the concrete beam should be in accordance with BS 5400: Part 4 and the Departmental Standard BD
17/83.