Calibration of Bridge Fatigue Design Model
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 111, Issue 6
Abstract
A structural reliability evaluation is performed of the current AASHTO fatigue specification for steel bridges. The reliability model incorporates uncertainties in vehicular loading, analysis, and fatigue life. Field data is obtained from a weigh‐in‐motion system, which utilizes existing bridges as equivalent static scales. The load data includes truck axle and gross weights, headways, impact, stress range, girder distribution, and volume. A fatigue life model is formulated in terms of a fatigue failure function. Using the loading and fatigue life data a safety index is calculated using a level II reliability program. The study reviews the current specification in order to derive uniform reliability levels over the range of typical designs. The proposed revisions include: (1) A design vehicle model more representative of the current U.S. truck population; (2) changes in allowable stress ranges to eliminate variations in safety index; and (3) a range of load factors to represent site specific truck volume and loadometer (weights) values. These recommended changes lead to more uniform safety levels and fatigue lives for steel bridges.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 111 • Issue 6 • June 1985
Pages: 1251 - 1266
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 ASCE.
History
Published online: Jun 1, 1985
Published in print: Jun 1985
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