Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 250-268 (2015)
FATIGUE DAMAGE IN STEEL BRIDGES AND EXTENDING THEIR LIFE
John W. Fisher* and Sougata Roy
Center for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems, Lehigh University 117 ATLSS Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
* (Corresponding author: E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
DOI:10.18057/IJASC.2015.11.3.1
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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.
KEYWORDS
Steel bridges, Orthotropic steel decks, Distortion-induced fatigue, Long-term remote monitoring, Fatigue retrofit, Extending fatigue life, Fatigue damage, Ultrasonic impact treatment
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