Abstract
This paper studies distortion-induced fatigue cracks in a 1960s-era welded plate girder bridge that developed cracks in the web-gap region shortly after completion of a comprehensive seismic retrofit. Finite-element analysis (FEA) and field testing were conducted to investigate the cause of cracking and then to recommend appropriate repair measures for the bridge. The field test results validated the high-stress concentrations in the web-gap region of the bridge that led to fatigue cracking after only a limited number of cycles. FEA results indicated that the high-stress concentrations were principally a result of replacing K-type diaphragms with stiffer cross diaphragms as part of the seismic retrofit. Two conventional repair measures in addition to two innovative repair measures were evaluated. The proposed innovative repair measures focused on ease of installation compared with more conventional options and were found to reduce the distortion-induced stresses well below the constant amplitude fatigue threshold (CAFT).
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Acknowledgments
Support for the research described in this paper was provided by the Missouri Department of Transportation. The authors appreciate the kind cooperation and assistance of Mark Croarkin, former bridge maintenance engineer. The authors also thank Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim from the University of Idaho and Daniel Tobias from the Illinois Department of Transportation for their assistance throughout the preparation of this manuscript. Also, special thanks go to Darren Green, an engineering technician in the Saint Louis University Civil Engineering Dept., and Ying T. Chen, Li Hui, and Faress Hraib, graduate research assistants.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 22 • Issue 4 • April 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 12, 2016
Accepted: Oct 27, 2016
Published online: Dec 5, 2016
Published in print: Apr 1, 2017
Discussion open until: May 5, 2017
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bridge engineering
- Bridge management
- Bridges
- Bridges (by material)
- Construction engineering
- Construction methods
- Continuum mechanics
- Cracking
- Distortion (structural)
- Earthquake engineering
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Fracture mechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Rehabilitation
- Seismic effects
- Seismic tests
- Solid mechanics
- Steel bridges
- Structural behavior
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Tests (by type)
- Webs (structure)
- Wood bridges
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