LESSONS FROM WELD CRACKS IN ORTHOTROPIC DECKS ON THREE EUROPEAN BRIDGES

The failures in the steel decks that occured in 3 cases, weld cracking in orthotropoc decks on the Severn Bridge, England, and on the Haseltal and Sinntal viaducts in West Germany are described. The forces acting at the locations of the failures are discussed. It was found that in each case, the failures were definitely attributable to specific causes. These were attachments welded to the bottoms of the ribs and the inappropriate and highly fatigue prone details and welds used at the rib-to-deck junctures and at the intersections of the ribs with the floor beams, aggravated by the weld shrinkage stresses due to improper welding sequence.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339445
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Wolchuk, R
• Publication Date: 1990-1

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 75-84
• Serial:
  • Journal of Structural Engineering
  • Volume: 116
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9445
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/loi/jsendh

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Cracking; Failure; Steel; Welding; Weldments
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491130
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 28 1990 12:00AM