RESIDUAL STRESSES IN A STEEL BOX GIRDER BRIDGE

This note summarises an investigation into the build-up of residual stresses during the construction of the Cleddau steel box girder bridge. Strain measurements were taken on selected plate panels and stiffeners at various stages of fabrication, site assembly and erection. The note describes the different forms of residual stress and their relevance to box girder construction. A complex pattern of residual stress build-up was found. Stresses in individual plate panels and stiffeners were often substantially higher than average stress levels across a section. This has been put down to the influence of mechanisms of weld shrinkage other than those normally considered, and to the influence of other construction processes, particularly the methods of obtaining good fit-up. It is not proposed that accepted fabrication practices should be more restrictive than at present. However, there is a need for a standard specification clause to control the welding sequence for transverse splices between girder sections. The implication for design is that the presence of locally high levels of residual stress should not affect the ultimate strength of the box girder, provided the components have adequate toughness in compression. In deriving design rules from test data on small components, this factor needs to be taken into account. The results of this research have been taken into account in the development of the Code of Practice for Steel Bridges (BS5400: Part 3: 1982). (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0860171930
• Corporate Authors:

  Construction Industry Research & Information Assoc

  6 Storey's Gate
  London SW1P 3AU,   England 
• Authors:
  • OGLE, M H
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 68 p.
• Serial:
  • CIRIA Technical Note
  • Issue Number: 110
  • Publisher: Construction Industry Research & Information Assoc
  • ISSN: 0305-1781

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Box girders; Bridge construction; Bridge design; Bridges; Construction; Metal bridges; Panels; Residual stress; Shrinkage; Specifications; Steel bridges; Stiffeners (Plates); Strain measurement; Structural design; Structural plates; Welding
• Uncontrolled Terms: Plates
• Old TRIS Terms: Stiffeners
• ITRD Terms: 3472: Beam; 3474: Box girder; 3455: Bridge; 5532: Compression; 3655: Construction; 3666: Construction method; 5595: Deformation; 5520: Failure; 6136: Measurement; 3465: Metal bridge; 9069: Residual; 4743: Shrinkage; 187: Specification (standard); 4542: Steel; 3435: Stiffener (bridge); 5544: Strength (mater); 5575: Stress (in material); 8119: United Kingdom; 3852: Welding
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00466065
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0 86017 193 0
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1988 12:00AM