Effect of rivet holes on calibration curves for edge cracks under various loading types in steel bridge structure

Abstract

Attention has been paid to fatigue cracks in steel structures and bridges for a long time. In spite of efforts to eliminate the creation and propagation of fatigue cracks throughout the designed service life, cracks are still revealed during inspections. There is some limitation of crack sizes which are detectable on structure (from 2 up to 10 mm). Note that depending on the location of the initial crack, the crack may dominantly propagate from the edge or from the surface. The theoretical model of fatigue crack progress is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics. Steel specimens are subjected to various load types (tension, three- and four-point bending, pure bending etc.). The calibration functions for short edge cracks that are near the hole for a rivet or bolt are compared for various loads and the discrepancies are discussedAttention has been paid to fatigue cracks in steel structures and bridges for a long time. In spite of efforts to eliminate the creation and propagation of fatigue cracks throughout the designed service life, cracks are still revealed during inspections. There is some limitation of crack sizes which are detectable on structure (from 2 up to 10 mm). Note that depending on the location of the initial crack, the crack may dominantly propagate from the edge or from the surface. The theoretical model of fatigue crack progress is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics. Steel specimens are subjected to various load types (tension, three- and four-point bending, pure bending etc.). The calibration functions for short edge cracks that are near the hole for a rivet or bolt are compared for various loads and the discrepancies are discussed