ESTIMATION OF FATIGUE LIFE OF RAILWAY BRIDGES UNDER TRAFFIC LOAD

Random modelling of railway bridge loading enables fatigue damage to be calculated on the basis of the cumulative damage theory of Palmgren-Miner and the classification of the stress-time history by means of the "rain-flow" counting method. The results of calculations are the mean value of the damage and the standard deviation of the stresses, and thus an estimation of the bridge fatigue life. Accordingly the bridge life is dependent on the number of stress cycles and their distribution, the standard deviation of stresses, and on the shape of the Wohler curve. Bridge life increases with increasing span and decreases with an increasing traffic load. Results are presented as obtained in a detailed study of the effects on the bridge life of different parameters (vehicle speed, damping of bridge vibrations, variability in length and time of the moving load and its magnitude, number of stress cycles and their distribution). The equivalent damage method in the integral form enables one to compare the effects of the traffic loads with those of the standard loading.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0022460X
• Corporate Authors:

  Academic Press Incorporated

  24-28 Oval Road
  London NW1 7DX,   England 
• Authors:
  • Fryba, L
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 527-541
• Serial:
  • Journal of Sound and Vibration
  • Volume: 70
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0022-460X
  • EISSN: 1095-8568
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0022460X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Bridge members; Bridges; Damping (Physics); Durability; Fatigue (Mechanics); Length; Life cycle analysis; Loads; Loss and damage; Mathematical models; Physical distribution; Railroad tracks; Repeated loads; Speed; Standard deviation; Statistical analysis; Stresses; Structural analysis; Traffic density; Vibration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge spans; Fatigue analysis
• Old TRIS Terms: Analytical techniques; Bridge stresses
• ITRD Terms: 3455: Bridge; 1614: Damage; 5559: Damping; 6512: Dispersion (stat); 9016: Distribution (gen); 5910: Durability; 5579: Fatigue (mater); 5567: Load; 6473: Mathematical model; 5588: Repetitive loading; 3452: Span; 5408: Speed; 5575: Stress (in material); 5558: Vibration
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Data and Information Technology; Design; Freight Transportation; Railroads; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00322814
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 30 1980 12:00AM