Long-Term Field Response of Skewed Steel I-Girder Bridge Superstructures under Thermal Variation
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 38, Issue 5
Abstract
To investigate the performance of in-service skewed bridges, two continuous two-span steel I-girder bridges, one skewed 45° with integral abutments and the other skewed 41° with stub abutments, were instrumented during construction for long-term field monitoring. The bridges are located near each other and experience similar traffic volume and thermal variation, from roughly to 38°C (0°F to 100°F). Critical girders and cross-frames were instrumented with strain gauges and/or tiltmeters, and temperature was recorded at each sensor. Superstructure response over more than 2 years of data collection was recorded and studied, including for the in-service first-stage half bridges (temporarily for 6 months) and the full bridges. Girder cross-sections and cross-frames were within the elastic range during field monitoring, so stress directly relates to measured strain. The bridge superstructures experienced cyclic stress variation under thermal loading—there was clear linear correlation between bridge response and seasonal temperature variation, especially for decomposed girder axial stress and strong-axis bending stress. Deviation from the correlation was observed due to changes in abutment restraint during seasonal temperature variation and thermal gradient under daily temperature changes. Exterior girders were frequently unevenly heated by direct sunlight, which induced a diverging daily stress–temperature relationship compared to long-term observations. Thermal response of exterior girders is more complex than interior girders regarding both strong-axis and lateral bending, which is often not incorporated in standard bridge design procedures. Several girder bottom flanges and cross-frame members exhibited atypical increasing stress that started during the first cold-weather period; some of the stress development continued over time, regardless of long-term thermal cycles.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This paper documents a portion of project ICT R27-194 (“Evaluation of Spatial and Temporal Load Distribution in Steel Bridge Superstructures”). ICT R27-194 is being conducted in cooperation with the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT); Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Division of Highways; and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The contents of this paper reflect the view of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of policies of the ICT, IDOT, or FHWA. The authors would like to thank the members of the project Technical Review Panel, chaired by Mark D. Shaffer of the Illinois Department of Transportation, for their valuable assistance with this research.
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© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 29, 2023
Accepted: May 14, 2024
Published online: Aug 9, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jan 9, 2025
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Axial forces
- Bridge abutments
- Bridge components
- Bridge engineering
- Bridges
- Bridges (by material)
- Bridges (by type)
- Continuum mechanics
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Forces (type)
- Girder bridges
- Girders
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Mathematics
- Skewness
- Solid mechanics
- Statistics
- Steel bridges
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Thermal properties
- Thermodynamics
- Wood bridges
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