MICHIGAN'S GALVANIZED BRIDGE - FIRST IN THE UNITED STATES

THE STEARNS BAYOU BRIDGE, IN MICHIGAN THE FIRST HOT-DIP GALVANIZED BRIDGE IN THE U.S., IS 420 FT LONG WITH A CLEAR ROADWAY AND A 5-FT WALK ON EACH SIDE. THE BEAMS ARE 30 IN., 108 LB. THE DECK IS A REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB SUPPORTED ON STEEL BEAMS COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION. THERE ARE TWO 60 FT SPANS AND SIX 50 FT SPANS. A 4-SPAN CONTINUOUS SECTION IN THE CENTER OF THE BAYOU AND A 2-SPAN CONTINUOUS SECTION AT EACH END MAKE UP THE SUPER-STRUCTURE. ALL SUBSTRUCTURE UNITS ARE SUPPORTED ON STEEL H PILING, VARYING FROM 80 TO 125 FT IN DEPTH. AS A RESULT OF DESIGN CHANGES REQUIRING SPLICES AT THE DEAD-LOAD INFLECTION POINTS OF THE CONTINUOUS BEAMS, THE MAXIMUM LENGTH OF THE PIECES WAS REDUCED FROM UP TO 125 FT TO 65 FT. THIS PERMITTED GALVANIZING BY MEANS OF A DOUBLE -DIP METHOD. THE ACCEPTANCE OF A 100 PERCENT GALVANIZED HIGH-STRENGTH BOLTED FRICTION JOINT AS A SPLICE FOR CONTINUOUS BEAM WAS A MAJOR DECISION. CALIBRATION AND FATIGUE TESTS ON BOLTED DOUBLE-LAP JOINTS TYPICAL OF BEAM SPLICES INDICATED COMPLETE SAFETY IN THEIR SPECIFICATION, BOLTS USED CONFORM TO ASTM A-325. ANY GALLING EFFECT IN A TORQUED GALVANIZED FASTENER WAS REDUCED BY USING BEESWAX. DESIGN CHANGES NECESSARY TO MAKE THE A36 STEELS SUITABLE FOR GALVANIZING INCLUDE CONTINUOUS SEAL WELDING FOR ALL ATTACHMENTS, WELDING OF STUD SHEAR DEVELOPERS PRIOR TO GALVANIZING, WELDING SCREED RAIL CHAIRS ON THE TOP OF THE FACIA BEAMS PRIOR TO GALVANIZING, AND COPING CORNERS OF STIFFENERS AND DIAPHRAGM CONNECTION PLATED TO ASSURE FREE FLOW OF MOLTEN ZINC. SOME DISTORTION RESULTED FROM THE HEAT INCIDENTAL TO THE GALVANIZING PROCESS. SEVERAL BEAMS WERE STRAIGHTENED AFTER ERECTION, BUT THE MAJOR PORTION WERE STRAIGHTENED AT THE GALVANIZING PLANT. ERECTION EXPERIENCE PROVED THAT GALVANIZED STEEL CAN BE HANDLED WITH NORMAL PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT WITHOUT DAMAGING THE INTEGRITY OF THE COATING.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1967/200/200-004.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Paper sponsored by Committee on Metals in Highway Structures and presented at the 46th Annual Meeting. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Main, Roger
• Publication Date: 1967

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 29-35
• Monograph Title: Joint sealers, bridge materials and construction
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 200
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Bolted joints; Bolts; Bridges; Composite structures; Continuous structures; Galvanizing; Joints; Reinforced concrete; Steel; Studs; Waxes; Welding
• Identifier Terms: Stearns Bayou Bridge
• Uncontrolled Terms: Continuous beams
• Geographic Terms: Michigan
• Old TRIS Terms: Hot dip galvanizing
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00214673
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 2 1994 12:00AM