A method for replacing lower flange splice plate of a steel I-girder connection using BPL
<p>In recent years, corrosion damages of the steel I-girder bridge joints have been reported. With the increasing demand for the replacement of splice plates of the damaged joints, good workability without using temporary supports is required when considering the cost and time necessary to execute such works. In the present study, FEM analysis has been conducted in order to propose a new replacing method for the lower flange splice plates in steel I-girder, which uses a bypass device of steel plate named BPL that is attached to the web panel. From the analytical results, it has been confirmed that using the BPL and replacing the lower flange splice plates, the stress at the lower flange splice plates is transferred to the BPL and redistributed to the new lower flange splice plates after the removal of BPL. It has also been clarified the geometrical configuration of the BPL that can reduce the stress at the web effectively during replacement of the lower flange splice plates.</p>