Evaluation of a Steel Girder Bridge Collapse during Deck Removal
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 28, Issue 4
Abstract
The evaluation of a welded, steel girder bridge that once crossed the Rio Puerco River near Albuquerque, New Mexico, is presented in this study. Following 44 years of service, the bridge was scheduled for total replacement due to the poor condition of the structure. On May 18, 2011, the bridge girders collapsed due to lateral torsional buckling during removal of the concrete deck, resulting in a few injuries but luckily no loss of life. The buckling resistance of the compression flange of the steel girders was evaluated. Dead load and live load effects were determined from three-dimensional analyses. The results presented herein show that the deck removal procedure was not structurally sound and the compression-flange flexural capacity was exceeded in the exterior girder due to inadequate bracing, which initiated the bridge collapse. Following buckling of the exterior girder, load redistribution to the remaining girders resulted in demand versus capacity ratios exceeding 1, and ultimately progressive collapse of the entire bridge.
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Acknowledgments
The author thanks Mr. Ray Trujillo (NMDOT State Bridge Engineer) and Mr. Jeff Vigil (NMDOT Bridge Management Engineer) for their oversight of this project. Mr. Kenneth Murphy (Construction Engineer, NMDOT District 3) is gratefully acknowledged for providing the financial support to conduct this investigation. Also from NMDOT District 3, the assistance provided by Mr. Jay Loomis (Project Manager) and Mr. Matthew Garduno (Assistant Project Manager) in the collection of information including pictures, drawings, and verbal accounts related to the collapse is greatly appreciated.
References
AASHTO. (2010). Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) bridge design specifications, 5th Ed., Washington, DC.
RISA-3D version 8.1.3 [Computer software]. Rapid Interface Structural Analysis (RISA) Technologies, Foothill Ranch, CA.
White, D. W., and Grubb, M. A. (2004). “Appendix C: Lateral torsional buckling resistance of stepped flanges.” Three-span continuous straight I—Girder, load and resistance factor design, 3rd Ed., Customary U.S. Units, National Steel Bridge Alliance, Chicago, IL, C1–C5.
Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 28 • Issue 4 • August 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 30, 2012
Accepted: Apr 18, 2013
Published online: Apr 20, 2013
Published in print: Aug 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Oct 12, 2014
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