ASSESSING REMAINING FATIGUE LIFE OF EXISTING RIVETED STEEL BRIDGES

For aged riveted steel bridges, assessing remaining fatigue life for continuing service is critical, especially for decisions on structural/deck replacement or other major retrofits. Experiences from engineering practices have indicated that fatigue analysis based on specification loads and distribution factors usually underestimates the remaining fatigue life of existing bridges by overestimating the live load stress ranges. Fatigue evaluation based on field measured stress range histograms under actual traffic load proves to be a more accurate and efficient method for existing bridges. This paper describes the application of such a method in assessing the remaining fatigue life of riveted bridges. Special characteristics, fatigue cracking mechanisms, typical crack types, and fatigue strength of riveted members are discussed. Current provisions on fatigue evaluation of riveted bridge members from various AASHTO specifications are reviewed. Fatigue evaluation results for 3 major highway riveted bridges, based on field strain measurements, are summarized. Lastly, a procedure for evaluating fatigue life of existing bridges based on case-specific strain measurement is offered for bridge owners.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; Photos; References;
  • Pagination: p. 193-204

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00965788
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 9058096068
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Nov 11 2003 12:00AM