Title:
Fatigue Testing of Two Full-Size Pre-Cracked AASHTO Bridge Girders
Author(s):
P. Zia, M. J. Kowalsky, G. C. Ellen, and S. E. Longo
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
211
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
1-16
Keywords:
bridge; cracking; cyclic load; fatigue; fatigue strength; fatigue testing; girder; prestressed concrete; repeated load
DOI:
10.14359/12582
Date:
2/1/2003
Abstract:
This paper presents the results of an investigation on the fatigue performance of two full-size pre-cracked prestressed concrete bridge girders. One AASHTO Type III girder and one AASHTO Type V girder were tested under 1,000,000 cycles of repeated service load intermingled with 2,500 cycles of repeated overload. The behavior of the girders was monitored after each 200,000 cycles of service load as well as each 500 cycles of overload. At the end of the fatigue tests, the girders were tested to failure to determine their ultimate strengths. The test results demonstrated that the fatigue loadings had virtually no effect on the girder behavior. The girders showed no degradation in stiffness or strength after 1,002,500 cycles of fatigue loading. Both girders showed considerable ductility, and their ultimate loads and maximum deflections exceeded the predicted values.