Damage Identification and Characterization for Steel Beam Bridges
F.C.Santos, H.F.G. de Abreu, J.P. Farias, and E.P. de Deus, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil
ABSTRACT The maintenance and safety problem of existing steel bridges is an important concern of all highway organizations. Sometimes cracks develop in bridge structures as result of cyclic loading. One important situation where this is relevant is welded bridges structures, because welds are more sensitive to repeated stresses. A numerical model to identify fractures due to fatigue is developed assuming the linear fracture mechanics hypothesis. During nondestructive inspections of steel bridges the model make it possible to detect cracks and to precise their size. This paper presents a physical model developed to study crack characterization in welded joints and to compare theoretical and measured values.Key words: pre-service and in-service inspection, condition monitoring, maintenance
Publication Source: NDTISS '99 - International Symposium on NDT Contribution to the Infrastructure Safety Systems, Nov 1999 in Tores Brazil.
Publisher: Center of Tecnology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) - [Homepage]
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