IMPROVEMENTS DO HAPPEN OVERHEAD

Six years after the Federal Highway Administration, American Iron and Steel Institute, and Department of the Navy launched a $1.5 million joint effort to develop a new grade of high-performance steel (HPS), that effort is paying off with bridges that can better absorb the impact of traffic loads and have reduced susceptibility to fractures and corrosion. Although high-strength steel has been available for many years, until recently it required more sophisticated welding techniques and more complicated fabrication processes than conventional steel. Highway agencies and bridge builders were thus reluctant to try the new material, which represented less than 1% of the steel used in bridge construction. The new grade of HPS (HPS-70W) currently available is stronger and easier to weld than its predecessor. It also has only half the carbon and one-tenth the sulfur of conventional steel. The low-carbon content means that little or no preheating is needed to weld components together, which reduces construction time and costs. As more states adopt the HPS technology, both highway agencies and the public will benefit from increased cost savings and more durable bridges that require less disruptive maintenance work.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/11660022
• Corporate Authors:

  Scranton Gillette Communications

  380 E Northwest Highway, Suite 200
  Des Planes, IL  United States  60016-2282
• Authors:
  • Wright, W
• Publication Date: 2000-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 14
• Serial:
  • Roads & Bridges
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Scranton Gillette Communications
  • ISSN: 8750-9229
  • Serial URL: http://www.roadsbridges.com/rb/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carbon; Construction; Costs; Durability; High strength steel; Highway bridges; Maintenance; Savings; Service life; State highway departments; Sulfur; Time; Welding
• Identifier Terms: American Iron and Steel Institute; U.S. Federal Highway Administration; United States Navy
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I34: Steels and Metals;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795614
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 10 2000 12:00AM