Fatigue Behavior and Retrofit Investigation of Distortion-Induced Web Gap Cracking1
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 12, Issue 6
Abstract
This paper studies a Kansas Department of Transportation welded plate girder bridge that developed fatigue cracks at small web gaps close to the girder top flange. Repair had been previously performed by softening the connection plate end with a slot retrofit, but cracks were recently found to have reinitiated at some of the repaired details and are again propagating. A comprehensive finite-element method study was performed to investigate the cracking behavior observed in the bridge and to recommend appropriate measures for future bridge retrofit. The analytical results show that stresses developed at the top flange web gaps could exceed yielding under the loading of an HS15 fatigue truck. The current slot repair used in the bridge was found to have introduced higher magnitude fatigue stresses in the web gap. To achieve a permanent repair of the bridge, it is recommended that a welded connection plate to flange attachment be used during future bridge retrofit. The web gap details should be able to withstand unlimited number of load cycles once this additional repair is performed.
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Acknowledgments
Both writers were affiliated with the University of Kansas when this research project was conducted. They deeply appreciate the Kansas Department of Transportation and the University of Kansas for providing funding and support to this study.
References
AASHTO. (1990). Guide specifications for fatigue evaluation of existing steel bridges, Washington, D.C.
AASHTO. (1998). LRFD bridge design specifications, 2nd Ed., Washington, D.C.
Fisher, J. W. (1984). Fatigue and fracture in steel bridges: Case studies, Wiley, New York.
Fisher, J. W., Jin, J., Wagner, D. C., and Yen, B. T. (1990). “Distortion-induced fatigue cracking in steel bridges.” NCHRP Rep. No. 336, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Stallings, J. M., Cousins, T. E., and Rutland, S. K. (1993). “Evaluation of fatigue cracking in I-65 Mobile Delta Crossing Bridges. Vol. III: Floortruss-girder connections.” Highway Research Center, Harbert Engineering Center, Auburn University, Ala.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 12 • Issue 6 • November 2007
Pages: 737 - 745
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 13, 2006
Accepted: Nov 13, 2006
Published online: Nov 1, 2007
Published in print: Nov 2007
Notes
Revised based on the manuscript presented at the 84th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, 2005, Washington, DC.
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