Abstract
A finite element model of steel box girder with angle steel and round pipe braced trusses, which matched the construction details of the Sutong Yangtze River Bridge, was created to investigate the causes of cracks in braced trusses of longitudinal diaphragms. The stress characteristics and deformation modes of fatigue crack details on the braced trusses were studied in conjunction with nominal stress test results obtained from an actual bridge. Additionally, two retrofit interventions were proposed: replacing the braced trusses with channel steel and adding vertical braces. Based on the traffic flow data from an actual bridge, the fatigue life of four braced truss forms was predicted and compared. Finally, an optimized retrofit intervention was recommended. The results indicate that the inner side joint details between the braced trusses and upper gusset plates are particularly susceptible to fatigue cracking. Under cyclic loads from traffic, axial tensile and compressive stresses are the main contributors to fatigue. Local stress concentration, combined with initial welding defects of the braced trusses, plays a crucial role in the initiation of fatigue cracks. The use of channel steel sections can enhance the fatigue performance of joint details, while the impact of adding vertical braces on fatigue performance is minimal.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work is sponsored by the National Key Research and Development Project (No. 2017YFE0128700). The assistance is gratefully acknowledged.
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Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 38 • Issue 2 • April 2024
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 8, 2023
Accepted: Oct 25, 2023
Published online: Dec 30, 2023
Published in print: Apr 1, 2024
Discussion open until: May 30, 2024
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