Fatigue Cracking of Riveted Steel Tied Arch and Truss Bridges

摘要

Riveted steel truss and tied arch bridges in Washington state have experiencedsignificant cracking that is due to fatigue loading. The Lewis River and Toutle River bridges are good examples of these two bridge types. They are both on the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 and experience heavy truck traffic. This research study addressed the fatigue cracking on these two bridges. The cracking on these two bridges was summarized and anlayzed. Computer models of the two bridges were developed, and static and dynamic analyses of the bridges were performed. Instrumentation was installed on both bridges in 1996. Controlled load and weight station tests were performed on the two bridges with trucks of known weight and geometry traveling at known speeds. The results of these measurements were used to evaluate the overall behavior of the two bridges and to calibrate the intruments for further testing with trucks of unknown weight and geometry.