INVESTIGATION OF AN INTERSTATE-57 BRIDGE BEAM BRITTLE FRACTURE

During the winter of 1976-77 a brittle fracture occurred in one of the steel beams of a four-span steel beam bridge (composite) spanning Interstate-57. The fractured member was removed from the bridge and tests of the member were conducted to determine the cause of failure. This report summarizes the results of the various tests conducted on the failed member and provides a discussion of the role played by the various factors related to the failure. (FHWA)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Project Title: Steel Bridge Design Criteria to Help Minimize The Probability of Fracture.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Engineering Experiment Station
  Urbana, IL  United States  61801

  Illinois Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Physical Research
  126 East Ash Street
  Springfield, IL  United States  62704-4766
• Authors:
  • Handel, W
  • Munse, W H
• Publication Date: 1980-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 41 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge members; Brittleness; Failure; Fracture mechanics; Metal bridges; Steel bridges
• Uncontrolled Terms: Steel beams
• Old TRIS Terms: Brittle failures
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I34: Steels and Metals;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00319777
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-IL-UI-181 Tech Rpt., FCP 45F2-292
• Contract Numbers: 304
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 12 1981 12:00AM