WELDING OF A514 PLATES SAVES WEIGHT, CUTS SIZE OF FABRICATED GIRDERS

A 96 FT LONG SUPPORTING RIGID FRAME FOR A THREE TRACK RAILROAD OVERPASS IN BEAUMONT, TEX., IS SAID TO REPRESENT THE FIRST APPLICATION BY A MAJOR RAILROAD OF ASTM A514 STEEL PLATE, A HIGH STRENGTH (100,000 PSI YIELD), QUENCHED AND TEMPERED CONSTRUCTIONAL ALLOY. PLATES OF ARMCO STEEL CORP'S SSS-1000 STEEL WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE THE ALLOY'S STRENGTH WOULD REDUCE THE BULK OF THE STRUCTURE AND STILL SUPPORT THE HEAVY ROADBED AND TRACKS. THE FRAME WAS FABRICATED IN THREE SECTIONS AT MOSHER STEEL CO., HOUSTON, BEFORE SHIPMENT TO THE ERECTION SITE. IT CONSISTS OF A 48 IN. WIDE BOX GIRDER WITH 3 1/2 IN. THICK FLANGES AND 1 IN. THICK WEBS. L-SHAPED END SECTIONS WEIGH 34 TONS EACH. THE 41 TON CENTER SPAN IS 46 FT LONG. SHOP WELDING PROCEDURES CALLED FOR MANUAL SHIELDED METAL ARC AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC GAS METAL ARC PROCESSES. BUTT WELDS IN THE HEAVY 3 1/2 IN. PLATE WERE MADE WITH E11018 ELECTRODES. FOR OTHER CONNECTIONS, MOSHER USED COVERED ELECTRODES OR CALCIUM DIOXIDE SHIELDED FLUX CORED WIRE (MCKAY SPEED ALLOY 115) WITH A 275 F PREHEAT. THE COMPANY STRESS RELIEVED THE FABRICATED SECTIONS AT 1050 F IN A CAR BOTTOM FURNACE. AT THE ERECTION SITE, TWO FULL PENETRATION WELDS JOINED THE MAIN BEAM TO THE END SUPPORTS. MANUAL SHIELDED METAL ARC WELDING WITH E11018 ELECTRODES WAS DONE IN A SMALL HOUSE WHICH SHIELDED WELDERS AND THE JOINT AND HELPED MAINTAIN A PREHEAT OF 300 F. ENTRY PORTS IN THE WEB OF THE BOX BEAM PERMITTED INTERNAL PLACEMENT OF PRE- HEATERS. THE SSS-1000 FRAME SUPPORTS 15 BEAMS OF A441 STEEL WHICH FORM PART OF THE CAST-IN-PLACE COMPOSITE DECK SYSTEM. PLACED ON 37 IN. CENTERS, BEAMS WERE JOINED TO THE FRAME WITH FULL PENETRATION WELDS MADE WITH E7018 ELECTRODES. /ARTICLE/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Vol 90, No 2, PP 7-8, 1 PHO
  • Publication Date: 1966-8

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00216306
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 22 1994 12:00AM