Experimental research and numerical analysis of transverse strain of hinge joints in hinge plates

In order to study the transverse strain of hinge joints under the role of vertical shear stress, the experimental researches of hinge plates with different structure of hinge joints were made, and the correlations of the numerical analysis were also carried out. Shown from the results of test and analysis, under the role of vertical shear stress, the transverse strain of deep and shallow hinge joints at the mid span were all small. The stress and cracking of concrete in hinge joints can be simulated by ANSYS models, but after the concrete models cracked, the errors of nonlinear analog value was greater. Therefore, the vertical shear stress was not a single factor which caused the damage of hinge joints; for the ANSYS model, after the concrete unit cracked, the value of nonlinear analysis should be analysized and applicated discriminately.