Kentucky Bridges Incorporating High Strength Quenched and tempered (Q&T) Steel KYSPR 10-401

OBJECTIVES: KYSPR 10-401 Continuation of an Approved Study Anticipated Completion FY 2011 I. Conduct a literature review to determine when high-strength quenched & tempered (Q&T) steels were first employed on bridges in the U. S. Review the evolution of the ASTl\lIAASHTO standard steels including adoption of fracture-touglUless tests. Identify previous problems encountered with those steels including low touglUless, susceptibility to weld cracking and stress corrosion/hydrogen stress cracking. 2. Review the KYTC bridge inventory to identify existing steel bridges that could have potentially employed high-strength Q&T steels. 3. Review plans/materials lists for the bridges that potentially could possess Q & T steels and identify any that contained those steels (and the relevant structural members). 4. Perform hardness tests on potential bridges/structural members where documentation is lacking to determine if they possess Q&T steel. 5. Provide KYTC with a list of bridges containing Q&T steel along with reconUllendations/guidelines for fo llow-on investigations, inspections and testing to preclude the presence of defective material or potential problematic detail s/issues.