FATIGUE PERFORMANCE OF MODULAR BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS

Several premature fatigue failures of modular bridge expansion joints have occurred in Europe and the U.S.. The principal causes of such failures have been poor detailing (such as the choice of fillet welds instead of full-penetration welds) and the tendency to reduce production costs by adopting larger beam spans. A critical analysis of data from field measurements is discussed. This analysis is focused on: 1) the magnitude of the forces acting on the considered component of the joint (center beam), 2) the dynamic amplification factor due to impulsive axle loading, and 3) the dynamic properties of the joint such as damping, natural frequencies, etc. Comparisons with results obtained by other researchers are presented. A simplified method for the dynamic analysis of the joint is proposed and compared with results obtained from field measurements. Finally, results from lab fatigue testing are reported, together with a proposal for a reasonable fatigue design load, based on traffic considerations.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08873828
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Crocetti, R
  • EDLUND, B
• Publication Date: 2003-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 167-176
• Serial:
  • Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0887-3828
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/toc/jpcfev/27/1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridge engineering; Expansion joints; Failure analysis; Fatigue (Mechanics); Joints (Engineering); Modular structures; Structural connection; Structural deterioration and defects
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00964608
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 27 2003 12:00AM