Reference Type:  Journal Article
Record Number: 1
Author: Fisher , J. W. and Roy, S.
Year: 2015
Title: Fatigue damage in steel bridges and extending their life
Journal: Advanced Steel Construction
Volume: 11
Issue: 3
Pages: 19
Start Page: 250
Short Title: Fatigue damage in steel bridges and extending their life
DOI: 10.18057/IJASC.2015.11.3.1
Keywords: Steel bridges, Orthotropic steel decks, Distortion-induced fatigue, Long-term remote monitoring, Fatigue retrofit, Extending fatigue life, Fatigue damage, Ultrasonic impact treatment
Abstract: This paper presents an overview of the performance of several welded steel bridges in the USA including fatigue cracking at cover plate and similar attachment details, as well as distortion-induced cracking at web gaps. Also examination methods are studied to improve and retrofit fatigue sensitive details, including modern post-weld enhancement by ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT). Orthotropic steel decks are reviewed based on the results of full-scale prototype laboratory fatigue tests which identified the complex behavior that occurs at fatigue sensitive details and were verified by field measurements on field installations. The orthotropic deck is the only bridge deck system likely to provide a 100 year life when the deck plate thickness equals or exceeds 16 mm.
Author Address: Center for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems, Lehigh University 117 ATLSS Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA