ABSTRACT
With increasing highway traffic demands, many aging bridges require urgent rehabilitation. This study examines the structural optimization of prestressed concrete box girder bridges strengthened with transverse steel connections (TSCs). A finite element (FE) parametric analysis is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various TSC configurations under traffic loading. Key parameters, including TSC arrangement, height, and thickness, are systematically examined. The results indicate that a single mid-span TSC reduces deflection by 8.18%, achieving a reinforcement effect comparable to that of two TSCs. Additionally, increasing TSC height enhances structural efficiency, while thickening the transverse element significantly reduces deflection. In contrast, variations in diagonal element thickness exhibit negligible influence. These findings provide valuable insights into the structural behavior of TSC-reinforced bridges and contribute to the optimization of their design for enhanced performance.
