Finite Strip Method For Fixed Ended Plates

ABSTRACTFinite strip method (FSM) is an effective method for analysis of slabs, slab bridges, slab girder bridges, box girder bridges and other different type of structures. In most previous studies the derivations of the stiffness matrix based on the assumption, that the boundary condition is hinged at both ends. In this study the derivations are extended to determine the stiffness matrix and load vector for the fixed ended slab strip using the minimum total potential energy method. Two slab girder bridges are analyzed by finite strip method and the results are compared with the exact and finite element method solutions and showed good agreement.KEYWORDS: Finite strip method, Fixed ended bridges, Harmonic function, Polynomial function and Slab girder bridges.