Influence of the coupling of two box decks

The influence of the coupling of two box decks is investigated in this paper using the Ritz method, and the performance of the coupled deck compared to that of two separate decks, in terms of displacements and stress resultants. A numerical example illustrates the procedure. The results of a Finite Elements analysis are also presented to validate the analytical procedure. A set of design charts is given that allows the designer to have preliminary information on the performance of the coupled deck.