Structural Engineering Research On-Call Services Task 2 - Aluminum Truss Overhead Sign Support Flange Damage Assessment

A variety of structural supports exist to mount signs along highways. One type of support is a truss that spans the width of the highway that allows for the placement of overhead signs. These trusses are subject primarily to wind and gravity loads. The connections between the chords and the diagonals are typical fillet welded. Fillet welds are a fatigue prone detail and the welding potentially can leave a heat affected zone which affects the strength of the joints and the members. A truss with severe cracking near Obetz, Ohio was identified by the Ohio Department of Transportation and removed from service. Research team members inspected the trusses in the field on March 14, 2018 after they were removed from service. The cracking was mapped and elements of the truss including cracked and undamaged joints were removed from the truss and transported to the University of Toledo.

  • Record URL:
  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Cover title: Structures Research Services 2015-2017 (Task 2 Final Report – Aluminum Truss Overhead Sign Support Flange Damage Assessment). Cover date: January 2019.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Ohio University, Athens

    Department of Civil Engineering
    Athens, OH  United States  45701

    Ohio Department of Transportation

    Office of Statewide Planning and Research
    1980 West Broad Street
    Columbus, OH  United States  43223

    Federal Highway Administration

    1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Authors:
    • Steinberg, Eric P
    • Miller, Richard A
    • Nims, Douglas K
    • White, Kevin
    • Walsh, Kenneth
    • Khoury, Issam
  • Publication Date: 2019-9

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Edition: Final Report
  • Features: Photos;
  • Pagination: 9p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01848912
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/OH-2019-21
  • Contract Numbers: SJN 135250
  • Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Jun 21 2022 10:28AM