Variable-Amplitude Fatigue Strength of Structural Steel Bridge Details: Review and Simplified Model
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 14, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper reviews eight previous studies on the variable-amplitude (VA) fatigue strength of structural steel details: (1) four studies in the finite-life regime in which the number of cycles to failure of the specimens are equal to or shorter than the number of cycles at the intersection between the sloped S-N line and the VA fatigue limit, hereafter called the transition life; and (2) four studies in the infinite-life regime that is, at numbers of cycles greater than the transition life. The VA data correlate well with the constant-amplitude data when the former are plotted in terms of an equivalent root-mean-cube stress range. The effects of the following variables on the fatigue strength of structural details are discussed: block sequence in a stress range spectrum, spectrum size, type of spectrum, minimum stress, and type of steel. A so-called long-life factor quantifies how far a type of detail was cycled into the finite-life regime. Based on the results of the literature review, the writers recommend that the current AASHTO log-log bilinear equations for calculating the fatigue life be replaced with a single equation similar to the equation for predicting the fatigue crack growth rate in metals. This simplified model more accurately predicts the fatigue life near the VA fatigue limit.
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References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 14 • Issue 4 • July 2009
Pages: 226 - 237
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 15, 2006
Accepted: Sep 5, 2007
Published online: Jun 15, 2009
Published in print: Jul 2009
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