SPR 18-553 Identification of Bridges with Fracture and Fatigue-Prone Details

Welded steel bridges may possess details that render the bridges susceptible to fatigue cracking. Those details may also contribute to unstable brittle failures that can disable bridges and result in expensive repairs. Problematic weld details have been identified and retrofit measures ~f needed) are available. This project will entail review of plans and identification of problematic weld details on Kentucky bridges. A rating method will be devised to determine which of those bridges warrant follow-up actions based upon route criticality, ADT, structure loadings (e.g. extended weight routes) and potential severity of the welds. OBJECTIVES 1. Identify KYTC welded steel bridges with fatigue and fracture-prone weld details. 2. Determine methods to retrofit/mitigate possibilities of fracture for specific detail types. 3. Assist K.YTC in developing a method for prioritizing those bridges for retrofitting/repair to eliminate/ mitigate those details. *** This Research Program for the period July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018 is submitted in compliance with the provisions of Section 307 of Title 23, United States Code, and describes programs and operations for planning activities in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Kentucky Cooperative Transportation Research Program (KCTRP). This program modifies and updates such programs and is specifically intended to reflect the needs of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. It is fully expected that products from this program will also have national applications. The University of Kentucky Transportation Center is the main research group for the the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The SPR grant is the funding the is supplied each year for the many topics the Center is asked to research for KYTC The KCTRP is concerned with the development and conduct of a comprehensive research program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In addition to research developed in cooperation with FHWA, the KCTRP may perform other services for the KYTC on a nonparticipating basis. The scope of these services could include activities such as research studies and special investigations of various engineering and operation activities. The Research Program and Implementation Advisory Committee (RPIAC), headed by the State Highway Engineer and coordinated through the Research Coordinator, will give direction to the research program.