Project title: Methods of evaluating the redundancy of steel bridges

747040751Technical report; Sept. 2005-Aug. 2009.PDFTech ReportFHWA/TX-10/9-5498-11314388Metal bridgesSteel bridgesBox girder bridgesFracture mechanicsMetalsSteelTexasUniversity of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation ResearchBarnard, TimothyHovell, Catherine G.Sutton, James P.Mouras, Joshua M.Neuman, Bryce J.Samaras, Vasileios A.Kim, JanghwanWilliamson, Eric B.Frank, Karl H.University of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation ResearchTexas. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation OfficeUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Bridges and StructuresUS Transportation CollectionBridges that are classified as fracture critical by AASHTO require more frequent inspections than other types ofbridges, resulting in greater costs for their maintenance. Several historical events have shown, however, thatsevere damage can occur to a bridge without necessarily resulting in its collapse. A primary objective of thisresearch project was to characterize the redundancy that exists in twin steel box-girder bridges, which are widelyused in Texas and are classified as fracture critical. The main goal of the research was to develop guidelines formodeling a bridge\ue2\u20ac\u2122s behavior in the event that a fracture of a critical tension flange takes place.The research carried out under this project included laboratory testing, experimental evaluation of a full-scalebox-girder bridge, and detailed structural analyses. Data gathered from the experimental testing program wereused to validate nonlinear finite element models as well as simplified engineering models. Based on the results ofthis research, engineers now have guidelines for modeling the response of twin steel box-girder bridges followingthe fracture of one of its girders