Fatigue Design Methodology for highway sign support structures

Highway sign support structures are fatigue sensitive structures which require careful structural assessment, particularly in reference to their connections. AS5100 provides ultimate and serviceability limit state design requirements and refers to AASHTO for all aspects of the fatigue limit state design. AASHTO provides nominal stress-based fatigue detail categories for circular hollow sections and multisided sections, however, fatigue detail categories for rectangular or square sections are not available in AASHTO. Instead, AASHTO suggested an alternate local stress-based and/or experimental based methodology as provided in Appendix C. In Australia, it is common practice to use SHS, RHS and plate fabricated box sections as sign support structures. The fatigue design of connections associated with these sections using nominal stress-based method is not possible as connection detail categories are not covered in AS5100 or AASHTO. Based on the literature review there are various gaps and inconsistencies exists with current design guidelines and there is no consistent, nor suitable singular method is available for the typical gantry design scenarios, particularly those that use square and rectangular sections. To address these gaps and inconsistencies, three different fatigue design methodologies are presented, varying in complexity from nominal and geometric stress methods to the modified notch stress method.

• Record URL:
  • https://austroads.com.au/publications/bridges/abc2022-000-22
• Record URL:
  • https://arrbknowledge.com
• Authors:
  • Patoary, K
  • Buttigieg, M
  • Manoochehrikian, V
• Conference:
  • Austroads Bridge Conference, 11th, 2022, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• Publication Date: 2022-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: 11th Austroads Bridge Conference, Adelaide, 15th-18th November 2022

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highways; Lighting columns; Loads; Mechanical fatigue; Overhead traffic signs; Securing and joining equipment; Standardization; Standards; Structural design; Structural plates; Traffic signs; Vehicle design; Wind
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Australian design rules; Australian standard; Connector; Highway; International standard; Lighting column; Load; Material fatigue; Overhead traffic sign; Plate; Structural design; Traffic sign; Wind
• ITRD Terms: 9011: Design (overall design); 5579: Fatigue (mater)
• Subject Areas: Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01901741
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB Group Limited
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 7 2023 2:54PM