Research Project

Preventing Cracking at Diaphragm/Plate Girder Connections in Steel Bridges (TR-393)

Researcher(s)

Principal investigator: Terry Wipf, 515-294-9501, tjwipf@iastate.edu (project list)

Co-principal investigators:

Lowell Greimann, 515-294-9333, greimann@iastate.edu (project list)

Other authors: A. H. Khalil, D. Wood

Project status

Completed

Start date:
End date: 06/01/98

Publications

Report: June 1998, http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/reports/prevent_crack.pdf 1.4MB (*pdf)

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Sponsor(s)/partner(s)

Sponsor(s):Iowa Department of Transportation
Iowa Highway Research Board

About the research

Abstract: The objective of this research was to investigate experimentally a method proposed by the Iowa DOT to prevent cracking at the diaphragm/plate girder connection in steel bridges with X-type or K-type diaphragms. The method consists of loosening the bolts at some connections between the diaphragm diagonals and the connection plates.

2711 S. Loop Drive, Suite 4700, Ames, Iowa 50010-8664
Phone: 515-294-9501 ~ Fax: 515-294-0467
The Bridge Engineering Center is administered by Iowa State University's Institute for Transportation.