What's Important in Railroad Bridge Fatigue Life Evaluation

The key factors that must be evaluated to determine the remaining safe fatigue life of a railroad bridge are: 1) geometric structural fatigue detail category and its stress range to cycle capacity (S-N) and 2) the applicable stress ranges. Laboratory experimentation has defined the geometric structural fatigue detail categories and their stress range to cycle capacities (S-N) at constant amplitude to a level that is generally much better defined than the applicable stress range. The applicable stress ranges depend on the load spectra and the geometric properties of the structure being evaluated. Calculated stress ranges are rarely accurate enough for realistic remaining safe fatigue life predictions. Critical stress ranges are generally quite low in relation to the ultimate stress capacity for which most analytical models have been developed, and field strain gauge testing, assuming the cost savings are reasonable, is often necessary to get a more accurate estimate of stress range to applied load. The next and often most difficult factor to evaluate is the appropriate load spectra, especially for structures already subject to many years of loading. This paper discusses the aforementioned issues and gives a number of short examples of the influence of these various factors.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/15732487
• Authors:
  • Sweeney, R A P
• Publication Date: 2006-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 191-198
• Serial:
  • Bridge Structures - Assessment, Design & Construction
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: IOS Press
  • ISSN: 1573-2487
  • EISSN: 1744-8999
  • Serial URL: https://content.iospress.com/journals/bridge-structures

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge engineering; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fatigue limit; Railroad bridges; Service life; Strain gages; Strain measurement; Structural analysis
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01045043
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 14 2007 6:34PM