RETROFITTING FATIGUE DAMAGED BRIDGES

This paper examines continuing laboratory and field studies on ways to retrofit fatigue damaged members. Results of a pilot field study on two bridge structures with known fatigue cracks at the ends of cover plates are reviewed. Fatigue damage members were retrofitted by peening and gas tungsten arc remelting the weld toe. The initial retrofit is summarized and the results of subsequent inspection after 1 1/2 years is reviewed. Also discussed is the retrofitting of several more bridges by peening weld toes on a more extensive scale. In recent years many highway and bridge structures have experienced fatigue damage from out-of-plane displacements. This has resulted in web cracking at the ends of transverse stiffeners and floor beam connection plates which were not welded to tension flanges. Cracking as a result of out-of-plane movement is reviewed and several examples of cracking in a number of bridges is discussed. Nearly all of these fatigue damaged members have been repaired and retrofitted by drilling holes in the web plate at the ends of the horizontal cracks. A series of laboratory studies have been carried out to evaluate the fatigue behavior of stiffeners due to out-of-plane displacement. After fatigue cracking from out-of-plane movement these test beams are retrofitted by drilling holes in the web plate. Subsequently the fatigue damaged girder has been cycled to confirm the adequacy of the retrofitting procedures. These results will be summarized and related to bridges with comparable conditions. /Author/

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: Figures; Photos; References;
  • Pagination: pp 102-109
  • Monograph Title: Bridge Engineering. Volume 1
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00183753
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0309026962
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Dec 3 1978 12:00AM