https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/31682/dot_31682_DS1.pdf

Fracture critical analysis procedures and design and retrofit approaches for pony truss bridges in Ohio.

The key objectives of this work were: (1) to assess and quantify the influence of corrosion caused by deicing-agents on the ability of reinforced-concrete bridge decks to serve as a transverse load distribution and redistribution mechanism in steel girder bridges; (2) to formulate a rating procedure to quantify the system capacity of bridges that includes the effects of reinforced-concrete deck deterioration; and (3) to explore the correlations deck condition ratings and level of deterioration and how this may affect predicted system capacities. The primary components of the scope of work began with reviewing the literature to quantify the effect of deicing agents on the structural performance of reinforced concrete members. A finite element methodology was then formulated and calibrated to simulate this effect, first in analytical reproductions of the experimental specimens in the literature and then through FEA models of three existing steel I-girder bridges that had been calibrated to field data in prior work. Theoretical calculations supported by the data generated from these models and data from bridge inspection reports was used to accomplish the second and third objectives.

Diane Wurst

Papers

Investigation of Load-Path Redundancy in Aging Steel Bridges