Stability optimization of concrete filled steel tubular arch bridges

As a new type of composite structures, concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) arch bridges have been applied in bridge engineering widely. Stability and ultimate bearing capacity become more important to long span CFST arch bridges. Based on some simple assumption, stability coefficient and calculation formulae are suggested by traditional linear elastic theory and regulations. The formulae have their own approximation and application to a certain degree. Recently, some scholar made geometric nonlinear stability research of them. Various material constitutive relationships of CFST are adopted here to analyze the plastic stability. The stable optimization such as the influences of the stiffness and location of bracing beams are studied finally.