Field Testing of a Decommissioned Skewed Steel I–Girder Bridge: Analysis of System Effects
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper describes the field testing of a decommissioned, skewed, steel I–girder bridge and the resulting behavior that was observed. To more thoroughly evaluate the behavior observed in the field testing, where a load 17 times the design load was applied, a finite element model of this bridge was created, which illustrates the behavior of this structure at an even greater load and in greater detail than could be achieved in the field. The field and finite element analysis (FEA) results for this bridge were compared with expectations based on current bridge specifications. These results show that there is significant reserve capacity in this common bridge configuration, relative to both current bridge design and rating specifications and the maximum load that could physically be applied to the structure. This is attributed to transverse redistribution of force enabling the strength of this bridge to far exceed the strength of the limiting girder, which is termed the system effect in this work. Conceptual formats that could be adopted to better capture this effect in future bridge specifications are also discussed.
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Acknowledgments
The field testing described herein was made possible through the support of the Delaware River and Bay Authority and their contractors. The design of the loading frame was performed by HNTB.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 1 • January 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 30, 2013
Accepted: May 7, 2014
Published online: Jul 25, 2014
Discussion open until: Dec 25, 2014
Published in print: Jan 1, 2015
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