Recent research on fatigue of bridge structures in Japan

Abstract

Abstract The study of the fatigue of bridge components has been observed to develop a great deal recently in Japan, owing to the intensive research for the Honshu-Shikoku bridges, one of the largest bridge construction projects of the era. The works have been publicized already elsewhere. Apart from long-span bridges, cases of fatigue cracking have been observed recently in short- and medium-span railway and highway bridges in Japan. Case studies on the cause of the cracking as well as on the remedial measures have been carried out. This paper summarizes some of the fatigue cracking observed in highway and railway bridges, recent research on the load and stress measurements and hence the rating of bridges, and the basic concept of new model codes for fatigue design of steel structures under development.