ANALYSIS OF FATIGUE OF WELDED CRANE RUNWAY GIRDERS

In recent years, mill building owners and constructors world-wide have observed structural distress in welded crane runway girders. The distress is in the form of fatigue cracks in the vicinity of the juncture of the web and top flange. Structural analyses were made using finite element and classical methods in order to rationally explain the observed cracks and to develop new fatigue-resident details. The results of the analyses confirmed that the local stresses produced by the passage of concentrated wheel loads were sufficient to cause fatigue cracks in the presently used structural details. It was concluded that the fatigue cracks were caused by the local effects of the crane wheel loads and the high stress range that occurs due to lack of proper bearing between the stiffeners and flange when a fitted stiffener is used. Therefore, an improved fatigue resistant detail was developed which consists of stiffeners with a deep cope (10-in.; 254-mm) welded to the underside of the top flange with full penetration welds.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Demo, D A
  • Fisher, J W
• Publication Date: 1976-5

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 919-933
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Structural Division
  • Volume: 102
  • Issue Number: ST5
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Finite element method; Metal bridges; Steel bridges; Structural analysis; Welds
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fatigue analysis
• Old TRIS Terms: Welded steel beams
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139489
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. 12106 Proc Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 26 1976 12:00AM