Live-Load Response of a 65-Year-Old Pratt Truss Bridge
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29, Issue 6
Abstract
The Kettle River Bridge is an arched, steel cantilevered deck, Pratt Truss bridge. To quantify the live-load performance of the bridge superstructure and provide a baseline for future comparisons, it was instrumented with 151 strain gauges on various beam, stringer, and truss members. In addition, 8 displacement gauges were attached along the truss. All gauges were simultaneously monitored while the bridge was subjected to a nondestructive, live-load test. The recorded bridge response was analyzed to quantify in situ behavior. The measured behavior was then used to validate a finite-element model using solid and frame elements, which was subsequently used to obtain an inventory- and operating-load rating of 2.03 and 2.64, respectively. Based on the results of the test, it was concluded that the large gusset plates added partial fixity to the truss members, as evident from the significant measured in-plane bending strains. However, the beam-and-stringer deck support system showed minimal rotational restraint between consecutive panels and behaved nearly simply supported. The validated finite-element model was used to determine distribution factors. The actual bridge distribution factors were found to be conservative in comparison to those calculated according the AASHTO LRFD specifications, by 17–44%.
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Acknowledgments
This paper was supported by a subcontract from Rutgers University, Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT), under DTFH61-08-C-00005 from the U.S. Department of Transportation-Federal Highway Administration (USDOT-FHWA). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Rutgers University or those of the U.S. Department of Transportation-Federal Highway Administration. Thanks also go to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for their help and cooperation with the testing of the Kettle River Bridge, and to Bridge Diagnostics, Inc. for their assistance during the live-load test.
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© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 5, 2014
Accepted: Jul 11, 2014
Published online: Sep 26, 2014
Discussion open until: Feb 26, 2015
Published in print: Dec 1, 2015
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