Abstract

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has several bridges employing high-strength quenched and tempered (QT) steels. In the past several decades, weld and corrosion cracking problems have occurred with QT steel in three KYTC bridges. This material has typically been employed on large bridges in fracture-critical members which increases the concern about these steels. This study was performed to review the KYTC steel bridge inventory and identify bridges/structural member containing QT steels. The list consisted of any KYTC maintained bridge with an individual span greater than 150 feet. KTC used this list to identify each bridge and members containing QT steel. This was done to enable KYTC inspectors to focus on those members when performing annual fracture-critical inspections. In addition to QT steels, another type of steel, ASTM A441 (a high-strength low alloy steel) has proved problematic on bridges in other states. The need exists to identify and characterize Kentucky bridges containing those steels so they can be subjected to greater attention in future inspections.

Report Date

6-2011

Report Number

KTC-11-10/SPR401-10-1F

Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.13023/KTC.RR.2011.10

Notes

The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or the policies of the University of Kentucky, the Kentucky Transportation Center, nor the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

Download

Share

COinS