PRECISE TRANSFER MATRIX METHOD FOR SOLVING IN-PLANE INTERNAL FORCES AND DISPLACEMENTS OF CURVED BEAMS WITH PINNED-PINNED ENDS

Based on the theory of precise transfer matrix method and the principle of thermal expansion, a precise transfer matrix format for in-plane internal forces and displacements of curved beams with pinned-pinned ends are derived explicitly. And it is applied to a simply supported curved beam. Compared with the results of FEM, the veracity of analytical solutions by the precise transfer matrix method is verified. A real multi-span curved bridge subjected to concentrated loads and thermal load is analyzed using the precise transfer matrix method as well as FEM, and good agreements are observed.