Abstract
Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge has recently been the subject of a major, award-winning strengthening project designed to increase load capacity and reduce maintenance requirements. This paper addresses the management of existing and potential fatigue cracking on the steel spans of the bridge. Recent growth in average vehicle weight and traffic volumes has continued to give rise to fatigue cracking, something the bridge has suffered from since soon after it was opened, particularly in areas directly subject to wheel and axle loads. The paper summarises the work being undertaken on the fatigue-prone areas and focuses on crack monitoring and behaviour. It also describes the fatigue management task, treatment details, constructability issues and the strategy for prioritising the treatment works.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Bridge Engineering
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
