Inhibiting Distortion-Induced Fatigue Damage in Steel Girders by Using FRP Angles
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 20, Issue 6
Abstract
The idea of retrofitting web stiffener ends in steel bridge girders susceptible to distortion-induced fatigue using adhesively bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) angles is introduced in this study. The proposed retrofit method is relatively cheap and easy to use and does not require deck removal or any other severe modification to the steel girder. Fatigue tests were conducted on specimens designed to model the conditions in the region between a web stiffener and a flange in a steel girder bridge. Fatigue life increases on the order of several hundred percent were achieved by implementing the proposed retrofit. The effect of the retrofit on the hot-spot stress in the critical weld detail can be seen in the experimental strain data and in a subsequent finite-element (FE) analysis of the tested specimen geometry. Further research is recommended to assess the performance of the retrofit on full-scale girders and to develop guidelines for fatigue verification and design of the FRP angle and adhesive. However, the presented research shows the potential of the proposed retrofit and the suitability of the hot-spot stress method for predicting its effectiveness.
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Acknowledgments
The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) is gratefully acknowledged for their financial support of this research. Ed Lau Ironworks is gratefully acknowledged for supplying the material and fabricating the steel specimens tested for this project. The adhesive was supplied by Sika Canada. S. Clark from Fibergrate Composite Structures is gratefully acknowledged for supplying the GFRP angles. R. Morrison, D. Hirst, and R. Sluban are acknowledged for their technical assistance with the execution of the laboratory tests.
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 20 • Issue 6 • June 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 6, 2013
Accepted: Jul 17, 2014
Published online: Aug 7, 2014
Published in print: Jun 1, 2015
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