Distortion-Induced Fatigue Cracking of a Non-Composite Steel Girder-Floorbeam-Stringer Bridge

Fatigue cracking in steel girder web penetration details is so dangerous that it can break steel girders. A one-meter-long crack was detected in Yamazoe Bridge in 2006. Since a number of highway bridges with such web penetration details may exist in Japan, it is of urgent importance to understand these fatigue-strength properties. However, few fatigue tests have been reported on steel girder web penetration details. The purpose of this study is to clarify fatigue behavior of steel girder web penetration details with a slit through fatigue tests of specimens with these details. We designed and fabricated girder specimens that have steel girder web penetration details, in which cross-beam bottom flanges are connected to each top or bottom surface of a slit by welding. First, we conducted static loading tests to understand the stress distributions around web penetration details. Second, we conducted fatigue tests to examine fatigue crack initiation and propagation behavior and fatigue strength.

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THREE FACE ATTACHMENT RETROFIT AGAINST FATIGUE CRACKING AT STEEL GIRDER WEB PENETRATION

Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction ◽

10.14455/isec.res.2018.134 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Chihiro Sakamoto ◽

Masahiro Sakano ◽

Hideyuki Konishi ◽

Takashi Fujii

Keyword(s):

Fatigue Strength ◽

Stress Concentration ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Fatigue Cracking ◽

Highway Bridges ◽

Lower Surface ◽

Strength Properties ◽

Fatigue Tests ◽

Lower Side ◽

Steel Girder

Fatigue cracking in steel girder web penetration details is so dangerous that it can break steel girders. Since a number of highway bridges have such web penetration details in Japan, it is of urgent importance to grasp these fatigue strength properties. In this study, we investigate stress reduction effects of three face attachment retrofit through fatigue tests using a large girder specimen with web penetration details where cross beam lower flanges are connected to the lower surface of a slot by welding. As a result, there is very little difference between two and three face attachments about stress reduction effects, while they are more effective than one face attachment. The upper side attachment is more effective than the lower side attachment, while both side attachment is best. Two and three face both side attachments can reduce about 40% of stress concentration, while two and three face upper side attachments can reduce 50– 60%.

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Performance Evaluation of Damage-Integrated Composite Steel Girder Highway Bridges

10.18130/v3rv7d ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Amir Gheitasi

Keyword(s):

Performance Evaluation ◽

Highway Bridges ◽

Steel Girder ◽

Composite Steel

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Effects of Removing Diaphragms from Steel Girder Bridge

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.1177/0361198196154100124 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 1541 (1) ◽

pp. 183-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. M. Stallings ◽

T. E. Cousins ◽

T. E. Stafford

Keyword(s):

Fatigue Cracking ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Steel Bridges ◽

Bottom Flange ◽

Rolled Steel ◽

Steel Girder ◽

Cyclic Stresses ◽

Before And After ◽

Steel Girder Bridge ◽

Girder Bridge

Many multigirder steel bridges built before the 1980s are experiencing distortion-induced fatigue cracking at diaphragm-girder connections. A means of eliminating the cyclic stresses that cause those fatigue problems is to remove the interior diaphragms (diaphragms not at the girder supports). The effects of removing all interior channel diaphragms from an existing simple-span bridge with rolled-steel girders were evaluated based on field measurements of girder stresses and deflections made before and after the diaphragms were taken out. Results from tests with trucks of known weight indicate that removing the diaphragms resulted in increases between 6 and 15 percent in the maximum bottom flange stresses experienced by the most heavily loaded girder. Results for loading by trucks of unknown weight in normal traffic indicate that the most heavily loaded girder may carry up to 17 percent more load as a result of removing the diaphragms.

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RETROFITTING METHODS AGAINST FATIGUE CRACKING IN STEEL GIRDER WEB PENETRATION

Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction ◽

10.14455/isec.res.2019.140 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chihiro Sakamoto ◽

Masahiro Sakano ◽

Hideyuki Konishi ◽

Takashi Fujii

Keyword(s):

Fatigue Life ◽

Fatigue Cracking ◽

Highway Bridges ◽

Lower Surface ◽

Strength Properties ◽

Fatigue Tests ◽

Stress Distributions ◽

Steel Girder ◽

Cracking Behavior ◽

Weld Toe

Fatigue cracking in steel girder web penetration details is so dangerous that it can break steel girders. Since a number of highway bridges have such web penetration details in Japan, it is of urgent importance to grasp these fatigue strength properties and develop effective retrofitting methods. In a previous report, we investigated the stress distributions around web penetration details, and fatigue cracking behavior, using steel girder specimens with web penetration details. In this study, we investigate effects of retrofitting methods against fatigue cracking in web penetration details through fatigue tests using large girder specimens with web penetration details in which cross beam lower flanges are connected to lower surface of a slot by welding. Principal results obtained through this study are as follows: (1) Weld toe grinding can extend fatigue life more than 5 times, (2) Two-face attachment can extend fatigue life more than 10 times, and (3) Two-face attachment with weld toe grinding can extend fatigue life more than 25 times.

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