Experimental Investigations of Bailey Bridges

This paper presents experimental investigations on Bailey bridges. Seven one-sixth scale models of the Bailey bridge trussed-steel frame were constructed in the laboratory and tested. All members of the scale models of steel frames are solid rectangular sections. Both ends of the members are fully welded. Some members of three selected specimens were removed to study their effects on degradation of limit loads. The cross-section areas of some members in two of the specimens were reduced to simulate the phenomenon of member corrosion. Two numerical methods, second-order elastic and inelastic analyses are used to predict the behavior of the steel frames. The responses determined by numerical methods are compared with test results. The scale model without lateral bracing members collapsed in the global lateral buckling mode at a very small limit load. The lateral bracing system of a planar frame is very important for preventing an early collapse and allows the ultimate strength to be reached.