FATIGUE BEHAVIOR OF WELDED DIAPHRAGM-TO-BEAM CONNECTIONS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fatigue strength of a particular welded diaphragm-to-beam connection. The connection consisted of wide flange diaphragm members welded directly to the web of a deeper main beam member. Cyclic tests were performed to determine the fatigue resistance of the detail and to evaluate 3 different repair methods. The repair methods studied involved combinations of diaphragm removal, drilling holes at the beam crack tips, and peening the bottom flange weld toes. This work shows that web and bottom flange welds of nonstaggered diaphragms are more susceptible to fatigue cracking than comparable staggered diaphragm configurations. It was also found that the fatigue life of the detail is not greatly reduced because of the formation of web and bottom flange weld fatigue cracks, as cracks formed in the beam web at the end of the bottom flange diaphragm weld controlled the fatigue behavior. Further, the repair methods were found to be effective in significantly extending the cyclic life of the diaphragm detail.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339445
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Barth, ASG
  • Bowman, M D
• Publication Date: 2001-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1145-52
• Serial:
  • Journal of Structural Engineering
  • Volume: 127
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9445
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/loi/jsendh

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Cyclic tests; Diaphragms (Engineering); Fatigue (Mechanics); Fatigue strength; Flanges; Structural connection; Structural engineering; Structural members; Welds
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00818414
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 15 2001 12:00AM