Consistent Approach to Calculating Stresses for Fatigue Design of Welded Rib-to-Web Connections in Steel Orthotropic Bridge Decks
This article has been corrected.
VIEW CORRECTIONThis article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 5
Abstract
The current (2004) fatigue design provisions in the 3rd Ed. of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications identify and classify the rib-to-web (rib-to-diaphragm) connections commonly utilized in steel orthotropic bridge decks where cutouts are used. The fatigue resistance of these details has been established through full-scale laboratory testing. This paper examines how the fatigue stress range was defined and determined during the testing which established the fatigue resistance of the details. A procedure to calculate or measure stresses at the rib-to-diaphragm connection, which is consistent with the fatigue resistance published in the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, is presented.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research was sponsored by the FHwA US DOT, New York State DOT, New York City DOT, and the ATLSS Engineering Research Center. In addition, the technical support and assistance with coordination of the field testing program provided by Dyab Khazem from Parsons Transportation Group in New York City was invaluable. Thanks are also due to the New York City DOT and Yonkers Construction for providing the test trucks used in the field. The writers would like to recognize Lehigh University graduate students Kevin Johns, Brian Metrovich, and Paul Tsakopoulos for their efforts during the field instrumentation and testing phase of this project. In addition, ATLSS Instrumentation Specialists Ed Tomlinson and Russ Longenbach provided valuable assistance during the field activities. Mr. Ian Hodgson prepared several of the figures.
References
AASHTO. (2004). AASTO LRFD bridge design specifications, 3rd Ed., Washington, D.C.
AISC. (1938). “The battledeck floor for highway bridges.” Committee on Technical Research, Chicago.
Broek, D. (1989). The practical use of fracture mechanics, Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Connor, R. J. (2002). “A comparison of the in-service response of an orthotropic steel deck with laboratory studies and design assumptions.” Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation, Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, Pa.
Connor, R J. (2004). “Influence of cutout geometry on stresses at welded rib-to-diaphragm connections in steel orthotropic bridge decks.” Transportation Research Record. 1892, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 78–87.
Connor, R. J., and Fisher, J. W. (2001). “Results of field measurements on the Williamsburg Bridge orthotropic deck—Final report.” ATLSS Rep. No. 01-01, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, Pa.
Connor, R J., and Fisher, J. W. (2004). “Results of field measurements made on the prototype orthotropic deck on the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge—Final report.” ATLSS Rep. No. 04-03, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, Pa.
Fisher, J. W. (1984). Fatigue and fracture in steel bridges, Wiley Interscience, New York.
Fisher, J W., et al. (1993). “Structure failure modes for advanced double hull: Fatigue and fracture failure modes.” TDL 91-01, Phase 1.3 (a), Vol. 3a, Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, Pa.
Fisher, J W., Albrecht, P. A., and Yen, B. T. (1974). “Fatigue strength of steel beams with welded stiffeners and attachments.” NCHRP Rep. No. 147, D. J. Klingerman and B. M. McNamee, eds., National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Washington, D.C.
Fisher, J. W., Barthelemy, B., and Mertz, D. (1980). “Fatigue behavior of full-scale welded bridge attachments.” NCHRP Rep. No. 227, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Fisher, J. W., Jin, J., Wagner, D. C., and Yen, B. T. (1990). “Distortion-induced fatigue cracking in steel bridges.” NCHRP Rep. No. 236, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Washington, D.C.
Fisher, J. W., and Yen, B. T. (1990). “Fatigue cracking of steel bridge structures Volume II: A commentary and guide for design, evaluation, and investigation of cracking.” Rep. No. FHWA-RD-89-167, D. Wang, ed., Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.
Fisher, J. W., Yen, B. T., Wang, D., and Mann, J. E. (1987). “Fatigue and fracture evaluation for rating riveted bridges.” NCHRP Rep. No. 302, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Washington, D.C.
Frank, K. H., and Fisher, J. W. (1979). ”Fatigue strength of fillet welded cruciform joints.” J. Struct. Div. ASCE, 105(9), 1727–1740.
The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation. (1987). Orthotropic bridges—Theory and design, 2nd Ed., Cleveland, Ohio.
Leendertz, J. S., and Kolstein, M. H. (1995). “The behavior of trough stiffener to crossbeam connection in orthotropic steel bridge decks.” Heron, 40(3), 217–259.
Tsakopoulos, P. A., and Fisher, J. W. (1999). “Williamsburg Bridge replacement orthotropic deck as-built full-scale fatigue test. Final report on Phase 2B.” ATLSS Rep. No. 99-02, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, Pa.
Tsakopoulos, P. A., and Fisher, J. W. (2002). “Fatigue-resistance investigation for the orthotropic deck on the Bronx Whitestone Bridge—Final report.” ATLSS Rep. No. 02-05, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, Pa.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 11 • Issue 5 • September 2006
Pages: 517 - 525
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 25, 2004
Accepted: Mar 14, 2005
Published online: Sep 1, 2006
Published in print: Sep 2006
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.