T-type steel pier on Hanshin Expressway

1.Field of application

Steel pier at the Kobe-Nishinomiya line of Hanshin Expressway, Japan.

2.Circumstances of Repair

Fatigue cracks were found in the weld joints, which connected the transverse beam flanges to the column flanges, in Sep. 1982.

3.Types of structure

Detail of the T-type steel pier is shown in figure 1,2. The transverse beam flanges were continuous and had penetrated the column. The column flanges were groove weld connected to the transverse beam flanges at the pier corners. The structural steel at the pier corners was SM 58.


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Fig.1 Plan of the T-type steel pier.


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Fig.2 Cross section of the T-type steel pier.


4.Details of loading

Fluctuating loads due to highway live load.

5.Description of damage

Fatigue cracks were found in the groove welds which connected the transverse beam flanges to the column flanges (Fig.3,4). The longest crack length was 74mm at the detection.


Causes of fatigue cracks were as follows:

6.Repair method applied

As there were space restrictions, strengthening was performed by plate connection (Fig.5,6). These trapezoid-like plates were weld connected to the transverse beam flanges and column flanges. After the completion of this connection, repair of parts subjected to cracking was performed by gouging and re-welding.


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Fig.5 Repair method.


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Fig.6 Complete view.



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