Feasibility Study of the Use of Fatigue Fuses in Predicting the Fatigue Life ofSteel Bridges

摘要

The objective of this research project was to conduct a preliminary laboratorystudy of the feasibility of using fatigue fuses on highway bridge members. Fatigue fuses were attached to a total of eight test girders, a variable load applied to the girders, and the behavior of the fuses monitored. The girders were designed to meet AASHTO specifications and although scaled down due to laboratory limitations, the structural details were representative of full-size members.