SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 20 May 2022
STP163320200060

Improvement of the Fatigue Strength of Steel Bridges by Adhesively Bonded Steel Patches—Adhesives and Processes

Source

Steel bridges with orthotropic roadway decks are a common construction method for long-span bridges. The construction method was developed in the 1960s, and the early structures especially show increasing crack damage. On the one hand this is due to construction errors; on the other hand it is due to massively increased traffic loads. There is already a demand for rehabilitation methods that do not weaken the cross-section such as bolted solutions or exert thermal influence such as welding seams, but there are no reliable and economical alternatives so far. Here, rehabilitation methods with bonded steel patches using structural, cold-curing epoxy resin or polyurethane adhesives seem to be the method of choice, for which solutions are being developed in a German research project. Extensive results on adhesive selection and mechanical properties as well as on surface treatment with regard to the manufacturing process are presented here. Analytical calculations are used to identify the main factors determining the load-bearing behavior of bonded steel patches. The calculations were validated by means of extensive small-scale and component tests on four different notch details as well as with the aid of numerical calculations, which are, however, presented in a separate publication. However, in addition to bridge construction, this type of patch rehabilitation is also of interest to other branches of the steel construction industry, such as offshore structures, crane construction, or rail vehicles. The promising results are currently being continued and transferred to a follow-up project.

Author Information

Stammen, Elisabeth
Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Joining and Welding, Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, DE
Abeln, Björn
RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Steel Construction, Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, DE
Ilg, Florian
Munich University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Material and Building Research, Munich, Bavaria, DE
Feldmann, Markus
RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Steel Construction, Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, DE
Schuler, Christian
Munich University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Material and Building Research, Munich, Bavaria, DE
Dilger, Klaus
Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Joining and Welding, Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, DE
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Pages: 96–127
DOI: 10.1520/STP163320200060
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-7713-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7712-3