Curved steel plate girder bridges are complicated three-dimensional systems. The girder curvature causes deflections and internal forces that sometimes differ from what would be seen in a tangent structure of similar size. An asymmetrical curved span arrangement can exhibit even more complex behavior. An understanding of the "rolling" behavior of curved girders is crucial for engineers who analyze and design these structures. The additional lateral flange bending moments generated by the out-of-plumb nature of curved girders should be considered by the designer. Field data that is being collected on Bridge 207 in Centre County, Pennsylvania will be used to describe the complex internal stresses in these structures at all stages of erection. This research will also be used to evaluate the accuracy of curved girder grillage models and three-dimensional finite element models.
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