ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Page Count: 10

Metallurgical Aspects of the Failure of the Point Pleasant Bridge

Bennett, JA
Metallurgist (retired), Engineering Metallurgy Section, Metallurgy Division, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.

Mindlin, H
Chief, Structural Materials Division, Battelle Columbus Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio

Abstract

Examination of the fractured eyebar which caused the collapse of the bridge led to the conclusion that a stress-corrosion crack had penetrated to a depth of ⅛ in. during the 40 years that the bridge was in service. This flaw was sufficient to initiate fracture across the remainder of the 16 in.² area of the lower limb of the eye due to the high local stress and the low fracture toughness of the steel.

Keywords:
corrosion, stress corrosion, cracking (fracturing), fractures (materials), mechanical properties, microstructure, tensile properties, fatigue (materials), stress corrosion tests, humidity, toughness

Paper ID: JTE10892J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE10892J
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