Steel Bridge Design Handbook: Bridge Steels and Their Mechanical Properties

Federal Highway Administration2012PDFTech ReportWright, William JUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Bridge TechnologyHDR EngineeringUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Bridge TechnologyUnited StatesSteel bridgesWeldingBridge designMechanical propertiesFHWA-IF-12-052This module presents an overview of structural steel products that are used for steel bridge construction. It is intended to serve as a reference and educational tool for structural engineers involved with bridge design and evaluation. The primary focus is on steel plate and rolled shape products that are available under the ASTM A709 Specification. This includes both a general introduction to steel making practices and a detailed discussion of mechanical properties. It also includes a brief introduction to other steel products such as bolts, castings, cables, and stainless steels that are often used for steel bridge connections and components. References are provided to the relevant AASHTO and ASTM standards for additional information. The mechanical properties of bridge steels are presented based on the A 709 specification. The stress-strain behavior of the various steel grades is presented to provide an understanding of strength and ductility. Fracture toughness is discussed to relate how the Charpy vee-notch test relates to fracture resistance in structures. Finally, the methodology for determining atmospheric corrosion resistance is presented along with the requirements for classification as "weathering steels" for use in un-coated applications.96