Welded‐Versus Bolted‐Steel I‐Diaphragms in Composite Bridges
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 115, Issue 2
Abstract
In the design of composite bridges, the North American practice either ignores or minimizes the contribution of transverse disphragms to the transverse load distribution; this results, among other disadvantages, in heavier longitudinal steel girders than necessary as well as in the loss of headroom. Recent tests have shown that when transverse steel I‐diaphragms are rigidly joined in a welded connection to the longitudinal steel girders, the wheel loads on the bridge become distributed in an orthotropic manner. The influence of bolted and welded transverse I‐diaphragms (to the longitudinal girders) on the response of composite bridges are investigated. Several composite bridge models were tested; repeated load tests were also conducted to examine the fatigue resistance of the longitudinal steel girders as influenced by the welding attachments. The experimental results are compared to theoretical ones based on the finite element method. It is concluded that the response of welded‐diaphragm composite bridges is superior to that of bolted‐diaphragm bridges and that this construction technique be used to rehabilitate existing composite bridges and/or improve their load rating.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 115 • Issue 2 • February 1989
Pages: 417 - 432
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 ASCE.
History
Published online: Feb 1, 1989
Published in print: Feb 1989
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