Steel pier at the Kobe-Nishinomiya line of Hanshin Expressway, Japan.
Fatigue cracks were found in the weld joints, which connected the transverse beam flanges to the column flanges, in Sep. 1982.
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.
Fluctuating loads due to highway live load.
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:
- Weld defect which had been included at the fabrication.
- Large cyclic stress due to live load.
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Fig.3 Crack location.
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Fig.4 Crack of the pier corner.
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.