Abstract
AbstractA formula for stress‐life curve is proposed to predict the fatigue life of riveted bridges located in corrosive environments. The corrosive environment‐dependent parameters of the S‐N curve are determined based on the corrosion fatigue testing results of different types of steel specimens in air, fresh water, and seawater. Eurocode detail category 71 and UK WI‐rivet detail category represent the fatigue strength of riveted members. The proposed S‐N curve formula is compared with full‐scale fatigue test results of riveted joints, plate girders, and truss girders, which were tested in a corrosive environment. Thus, the validity of the formula is confirmed. The formula does not require any material parameter other than the code‐given fatigue curve of riveted details. The fatigue life of a riveted railway bridge is estimated by using the proposed formula, and the results are compared with conventional approaches. The applicability and significance of the proposed curve are confirmed.
Highlights
Bridge authorities are paying significant attention to the ageing issues of bridges, as most railway bridges in the world are reaching their design life.[1,2,3,4,5] Replacement of all of these is practically impossible, due to both the decommissioning and new building costs, as there are many ageing bridges
To overcome the previously mentioned problems, the main objective of this paper is to propose a formula for an S-N curve for riveted joints and members exposed to corrosive environments
Lives calculated by Method 3, which includes the proposed fatigue strength curve shown in Equations (4) and (7), show a significant reduction in fatigue lives from Method 1
Summary
Bridge authorities are paying significant attention to the ageing issues of bridges, as most railway bridges in the world are reaching their design life.[1,2,3,4,5] Replacement of all of these is practically impossible, due to both the decommissioning and new building costs, as there are many ageing bridges. Most of the structural members of these bridges were constructed by riveted members (i.e. built up by riveting the plates). The release of clamping force increases the bearing, and this may have a significant effect in reducing the fatigue strength.[5] Some degree of corrosion has always been present in these old bridges, due to the difficulty of maintaining the coating/corrosion protection system in between layered parts/plates of riveted built-up sections.[5,6,7] Some of these bridges are located in urban industrial and moderate marine environments, which have been classified as severely corrosive environments.[7,8] many bridges are located onshore, deicing salt may simulate a marine environment for bridges in snowy regions.[7] The combined influence of the severe corrosive environment
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