OVERLOADING OF STEEL MULTIGIRDER BRIDGES

The overloading of steel multigirder highway bridges may have deleterious effects on the structural integrity of the superstructure. The overloading of steel bridges is closely linked with the fatigue-life determination of the connection details. It is observed that the actual structural response of these bridges is different from the assumptions made in the design. Results obtained from a computer-based anlaytical model and simulation scheme are presented. The method provides a reliable tool to predict the linear-elastic and inelastic response of bridge superstructures up to the collapse load level. The observations from case studies have indicated that (a) interface slip between the girders and the bridge deck can be neglected for any practical overloadings, (b) high stresses due to overloading tend to be more prominent in the vicinity of the details that are prone to fatigue-crack initiation, (c) residual stresses play a nonnegligible role in the inelastic response of primary steel girders, (d) buckling is an important but not a critical phenomenon, and (e) damage initiation due to overloading can initiate in girders or in the deck, depending on the design details. It was also noted that bridges with a high degree of internal and external structural indeterminacy are less prone to damage induced by catastrophic overload.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/950/950v1-013.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=OVERLOADING+OF+STEEL+MULTIGIRDER+BRIDGES&author=C.+Kostem&publication_year=1984
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/3090036593
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record Number 950, Volume 1, Second Bridge Engineering Conference conducted by the Transportation Research Board and the Federal Highway Administration, September 24-26, 1984. Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Structures Maintenance. 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:
  • Kostem, Celal N
• Conference:
  • Bridge Engineering Conference, 2nd, 1984, Washington, DC, USA
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 84-88
• Monograph Title: Second bridge engineering conference. volumes 1 and 2
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 950
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Bridge design; Bridge superstructures; Bridges; Buckling; Collapse; Failure; Girder bridges; Loads; Loss and damage; Mechanical fatigue; Metal bridges; Oversize loads; Residual stress; Simulation; Steel bridges; Stresses; Structural analysis; Structural design; Structural mechanics
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fatigue life; Overloads; Structural behavior
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390850
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 03090036593
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 30 1984 12:00AM