FATIGUE ANALYSIS FROM STRAIN GAUGE DATA AND PROBABILITY ANALYSIS

Abstract

This report presents a rational approach for determining remaining fatigue life of a bridge. A methodology was developed to determine fatigue damage from a probability analysis of traffic data by reconstituting or synthesizing the load (traffic) history of bridges. A mechanical scratch gauge was used to obtain a short period of stress history of bridge members on the Central Bridge over the Ohio River at Cincinnati. Stress histories deduced from the strain gauge records were used to evaluate fatigue damage to the bridge. The remaining life of the bridge obtained by these two methods was then compared.