Thermal stresses in steel girder bridges with integral abutments

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the use of field measurements to evaluate the performance of integral abutment bridges and to check the validity of the design assumptions. A newly constructed integral abutment bridge was heavily instrumented to monitor its long-term performance under the effects of environmental conditions and traffic loading. The collected data indicate that integral abutments resist the expansion of the bridge superstructure during summer time, leading to excessive axial compressive forces in the steel girders. Under such a condition, the 2002 AASHTO criteria for stability and yield of steel girders are barely satisfied under the effect of dead loads and temperature variations and are not satisfied when considering the effect of HS20-44 live load.

Longterm sensor-based monitoring of an LRFD designed steel girder bridge

“…A laboratory study to develop a comprehensive small scale instrumentation system for bridge monitoring demonstrated that reliable and feasible bridge monitoring systems was achievable [5]. Implementations of sensor-based health monitoring systems on existing bridges demonstrated the ability of such systems to render valuable data [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. The use of dynamic techniques to evaluate bridge damage in the field proved to be useful tools.…”

Experimental and finite element investigation of temperature distributions in concrete-encased steel girders

“…Many field studies were conducted during the last 30 years to better understand the temperature distributions and their structural effects on concrete, steel, and composite bridge structures. Generally, field studies are sponsored by the transportation agencies as parts of complete long‐term structural health monitoring (SHM) projects.…”

Response of Continuous Steel I-Girder Bridges Subject to Temperature Variation

“…support piers, abutments, bents). Additionally, restrained thermal deformation has been found to negatively affect the structural capacity of the steel girders themselves in studies by William et al (2005) and McBride (2013). Preventing, or at the least minimizing, the development of thermal stresses in a steel girder bridge system is generally accomplished through the strategic employment of bridge expansion bearings.…”

“…If thermal deformation of a bridge's steel superstructure is not freely allowed, or if thermal movements become restrained during the life of the structure, thermal force effects will develop throughout a continuous bridge, negatively influencing its structural integrity. William et al (2005) and McBride (2013) showed that when restrained, thermal expansion of a steel girder superstructure can lead to relatively large thermal stresses that reduce the expected structural capacity of the steel I-girders.…”

“…William et al (2005) and McBride (2013) demonstrated that restrained thermal deformation in steel girder superstructures with integral abutments can markedly reduce the expected structural capacity the girders. The Man Bridge is slab-on-girder type structure, so its behavior under thermal loads is not directly comparable to integral abutment style bridges.…”