RELATION OF TOUGHNESS TEST VALUES TO FATIGUE CRACKING IN BRIDGES

Tension, Charpy, dynamic tear, C-399, and da/dN tests were conducted on three heats of A36 steel cut from a highway bridge which had been tested to failure in fatigue. Tension tests and E-399 tests were conducted at temperatures ranging from 70F to -200F while all other tests were conducted in the temperature range from 70F to -50F. During field testing, the girder from one heat appeared to be more susceptible to fatigue failure than the others, but there were no significant differences in either fracture toughness or laboratory crack growth rates. Crack growth rates decreased with decreasing temperature, and did not appear to be influenced by fracture toughness. The E-399 plain strain fracture toughness test was found to be unsuitable for A-36 steel.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Missouri Highway and Transportation Dept., Jefferson City.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Missouri, Columbia

  Department of Civil Engineering, 2509 Engineering Building East
  Columbia, MO  United States  65211

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Missouri Highway and Transportation Department

  P.O. Box 270
  Jefferson City, MO  United States  65102
• Authors:
  • Baldwin, JWJ
  • Cooper, J A
• Publication Date: 1981-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 124 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fracture mechanics; Highway bridges; Structural steel; Tests; Toughness
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00365521
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: 78-2, FHWA/MO-78/2
• Files: NTIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 30 2002 12:00AM