Skip to main content
Log in

Influence of the holes spacing in bolted connections on propagation of fatigue cracks in steel bridge girders

  • Structural Engineering
  • Published:
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The analysis of the development of fatigue cracks conducted using a computer program requires a simple 2D surface model to be applied. The paper presents an example of creating four calculation models of a steel girder, two of which have been implemented in FRANC2D software. A 400 mm-high and 5.60 m-long steel I-beam was studied. Analysis of the development of fatigue cracks around the I-beam fastener holes was conducted for two selected computation models. What has been obtained as the result of the analysis was an answer to the question about the influence of the location of fastener holes on the propagation rate of hypothetical fatigue cracks. This answer was obtained indirectly, i.e. through the analysis of the value of stress intensity factor K.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chan, S. K., Tuba, I. S., and Wilson, W. K. (1970). “On the finite element method in linear fracture mechanics.” Engineering Fracture Mechanics, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1–17, DOI: 10.1016/0013–7944(70)90026–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolbow, J. E. (1999). An Extended Finite Element Method with Discontinuous Enrichment for Applied Mechanics, Ph.D. Thesis, Dec. 1999 online: http://dolbowceedukeedu/phdhtml -13.11.2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchaczek, A. (2010). Ocena trwa o ci zm czeniowej stalowych mostów wojskowych (Assessment of fatigue life of steel military bridges). Wroc aw University of Science and Technology. Civil Engineering Institute. Ph.D. Thesis, (Adviser: Zbigniew Ma ko) July 2010 [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchaczek, A. (2013). “Simplified models of calculation of webs in low-water bridge girders.” Selected Engineering Problems, No. 4, pp. 65–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchaczek, A. and Mako, Z. (2014a). “An influence analysis of the mounting holes localization on the propagation rate of fatigue cracks in steel bridge girders.” Górnictwo Odkrywkowe (Surface Mining), Vol. 55, Nos. 4–5, pp. 160–166 [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchaczek, A. and Mako, Z. (2014b). “Optimization of mounting holes locations in steel low-level bridge girders.” Journal of Science of the Gen. Tadeusz Kosciuszko Military Academy of Land Forces, Vol. 173, No. 3, pp. 184–196, [in Polish], DOI: 10.5604/17318157.1143796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duchaczek, A. and Mako, Z. (2015). “Determination of the value of stress intensity factor in fatigue life of steel military bridges.” European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Vol. 19, No. 8, pp. 1015–1032, DOI: 10.1080/19648189.2014.992549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duchaczek, A. and Mako, Z. (2016). “The influence of a cracking mode on fatigue crack propagation in steel girders in military bridges.” European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 1–18, DOI: 10.1080/19648189.2014.992550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erdogan, F. and Sih, G. C. (1963). “On the crack extension in plates under plane loading and transverse shear.” ASME, Journal of Basic Engineering Trans., Vol. 85, No. 4, pp. 519–527, DOI: 10.1115/1.3656897.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • German, J. (2011). Podstawy mechaniki p kania (The fundamentals of fracture mechanics), Publishing house of Cracow University of Technology [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussain, M. A., Pu, S. L., and Underwood, J. (1974). “Strain Energy Release Rate for a Crack under Combined Mode I and II. Fracture Analysis.” American Society for Testing Materials. Committee E-24 on Fracture Testing of Metals. National Symposium on Fracture Mechanics, pp. 2–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingraffea, A. R. and Wawrzynek, P. (2003). “Finite element methods for linear elastic fracture mechanics.” Chapter 3.1 in Comprehensive Structural Integrity, R. de Borst and H. Mang (eds), Elsevier Science Ltd., Oxford, England. online: http://wwwcfgcornelledu/education/ educationhtm -26.06.2012

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumaska, E. and Kossakowski, P. (2011). “Subcritical fatigue crack growth of St3S steel and over hundred years old bridge steel.” Scientific Journal of Rzeszow University of Technology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vol. 58, No. 3/11/II, pp. 365–372, [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • Mako, Z. and Duchaczek, A. (2006). “Low cycle tests of steel I-beams used in low-water bridges construction.” Part 1. Journal of Science of the Gen. Tadeusz Kosciuszko Military Academy of Land Forces, Vol. 4, pp. 54–65 [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • Military Bridges (1994). Mosty wojskowe. Podr cznik (Military Bridges. Handbook), Ministry of National Defense Republic of Poland, Warsaw [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • Neimitz, A. (1998). Mechanika p kania (Fracture mechanics), Scientific Publishing House PWN [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • PN-EN-1993–2 (2010). Eurokod 3. Projektowanie konstrukcji stalowych, Cz 2: Mosty stalowe (Design of Steel Structures, Part 2: Steel Bridges) [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • PN-85/S-10030 (1985). Obiekty mostowe, Obci enia (Bridge Structures. The Loads) [in Polish].

  • PN-EN-1991–2 (2007). Eurokod 1. Oddzia ywania na konstrukcje, Cz 2: Obci enia ruchome mostów (Actions on Structures, Part 2: The Live Loads on Bridges) [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • PN-91/H-93407 (1991). Stal. Dwuteowniki walcowane na gor co (Hotrolled steel I-beam) [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • PN-EN 10024:1998 (1998). Dwuteowniki stalowe z pochylon wewn trzn powierzchni stopek walcowane na gor co. Tolerancje kszta tu i wymiarów (The hot-rolled steel I-beam designed with rake of inner surface of the flange. Tolerances on shape and dimensions) [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • Rozumek, D. (2009). Mieszane sposoby p kania zm czeniowego materia ów konstrukcyjnych (Mixed mode fatigue cracks of structural materials), Publishing house of Opole University of Technology [in Polish].

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah, S. P., Swartz, S. E., and Ouyang, C. (1995). Fracture mechanics of concrete: applications of fracture mechanics to concrete, rock and other quasi-brittle materials, John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shih, C. F., Delorenzi, H. G., and German, M. D. (1976). “Crack extension modelling with singular quadratic isoparametric elements.” International Journal of Fracture, Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 647–651, DOI: 10.1007/BF00034654.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sih, G. C. (1974). “Strain-energy-density Factor Applied to Mixedmode Crack Problems.” International Journal of Fracture, Vol. 10, pp. 305–321, DOI: 10.1007/BF00035493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tracey, D. M. (1977). “Discussion of “On the Use of Isoparametric Finite Elements in Linear Fracture Mechanics”.” by R. S. Barsoum, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 401–402, DOI: 10.1002/nme.1620110217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wawrzynek, P. and Ingraffea, A. (1993). “FRANC2D. A Two Dimensional Crack Propagation Simulator. User’s Guide.” Version 3.1. online: http://wwwcfgcornelledu/software/software_documentationhtm-26.06.2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • User Manual (2009). Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis 2010, User Manual. Autodesk.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Artur Duchaczek.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duchaczek, A., Mańko, Z. Influence of the holes spacing in bolted connections on propagation of fatigue cracks in steel bridge girders. KSCE J Civ Eng 21, 838–850 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-016-0566-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-016-0566-6

Keywords

Navigation