Fatigue safety verification of riveted steel railway bridges using probabilistic method and standard S–N curves

[摘要] The current fatigue evaluation procedures in Europe and North American bridge codes do not account for the degree of uncertainty in load and resistance models. However, the variability of cycling loading and material properties have a significant influence on fatigue safety verification. A fatigue verification is contingent on the accumulated load cycles and the fatigue category; which, in turn, depends on member type and its connections. Assessment of structural safety can be evaluated more completely using probabilistic methods that provide fatigue prediction in terms of the probability of crack initiation. This method provides more information about the expected performance of a structural component; therefore, the structure can be used in service for a significantly longer time. In this article, the comparison of fatigue evaluation is presented using Eurocode, North American Standard – AREMA, and the new approach using the probabilistic method. These methods are demonstrated on the riveted built-up beams of the steel deck plate girder (DPG) railway bridge using data from field monitoring.

[学科分类] 建筑学

[关键词] railroad bridges;riveted steel structures;measured strains;cyclic loads;fatigue safety;remainingsafe service life