Life-cycle of steel bridges: Effects of local damage due to overweight truck traffic

Hun Cha, Purdue University

Abstract

Over their entire life, bridge components undergo lots of stress-strain cycles due to traffic loads. In some cases, the traffic loads can be due to overweight trucks which, in the State of Indiana are designated as those over 890 KN (200 kip). Overweight trucks are a common issue for state highway agencies. Local damage caused by overweight trucks, and other traffic and environmental factors, can accumulate leading to micro-cracks in the structural elements of steel bridges, and eventually cause a reduction in the life of the bridge. Traffic volume and truck weights have been increasing with the growth and technical development of the freight industry. With increasing truck weight limits forecast in the future, a detailed study of the effects of the additional damage and life cycle cost attributable to overweight trucks has become necessary. In this dissertation, it was presented that a computational approach to assess the effect of local damage on the durability of steel bridge components using detailed finite element models calibrated with realistic data from inspection reports of real bridges. Furthermore, concrete deck, which deck joint is installed, was investigated in detail to find out effect of local damage subject to repetitive loads. It is shown that this computational approach, with certain assumptions, is capable of quantifying the damage attributable to different load classes and environmental factors affecting the life of steel bridge components and can be used to streamline bridge maintenance and operations.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Varma, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Civil engineering

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