Verification of the equivalent stiffness method on the example of a model study of a two-span folding beam based on fixed supports

The article covers the analysis of the equivalent stiffness method in a two-span folding beam based on fixed supports, carried out on the basis of model tests. The essence of this analysis was to check the deformation of the entire beam for the constant equivalent stiffness. For this purpose, detailed measurements of deflections at each beam connection were made for different: size of assembly clearances, load values and length of the spans. Then, the results of the measurements were compared with the theoretical results. Theoretical analysis was carried out using the strict method and the Finite Difference Method. The conducted analysis confirmed the possibility of adopting constant equivalent stiffness in two-span folding beams. This is a continuation of considerations regarding the work of multi-span folding beams. Keywords: civil engineering, folding bridges, equivalent stiffness, assembly clearance.