Investigation of Fatigue Damage Cases at Main Girder-Cross Member Connection in Steel I-Girder Bridge Based on Inspection Data

Abstract

Fatigue damage cases in steel I-girder highway bridges have been reported mostly at main girders-cross member connection. These fatigue cracks are known as displacement-induced fatigue, and there are many uncertainties in crack propagations. In order to take appropriate action to damaged bridges, it is important to evaluate the cause and the occurrence tendency of the fatigue cracks efficiently. In this paper, for the purpose of identifying fatigue-damaged bridges with high priority for countermeasures, the relationship between the crack conditions and the structural/in-service conditions in existing bridges were investigated on the basis of periodic bridge inspection data.