Abstract

A vertical strut of the 1232-foot long, self-anchored Paseo Suspension Bridge fractured when the temperature hit at a record low of 9°F below zero. During inspection the following day, it was found that its lower pin was frozen and did not allow for free movement of the superstructure. The objective of this study is to pinpoint one of the four reasons for this incidence or their combination: overstressing, thermal contraction, fatigue, and reduction in fracture toughness at low temperatures. To achieve this objective, material property and fatigue testing was performed on samples of strut material while the bridge and strut were analyzed under service loading conditions. This study indicated that the strut material practically has an infinite life under normal conditions. The root cause of the failure is overstressing of the vertical strut due to a frozen pin that became frozen because the design of the bridge did not allow the pin to be maintained. The mechanically frozen pin condition was attributable to salt and sand accumulation in the strut housing. To prevent this to the new struts and other similar structures, it is recommended that both upper and lower pins be greased during special inspections and the lower housings be partially sealed to prevent salt and sand accumulation near the pins. Alternatively, a rotation monitoring system can be installed to remotely monitor the rotation of all four vertical struts and alert officials should the pins become mechanically frozen.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Sponsor(s)

Missouri Department of Transportation

Keywords and Phrases

Fracture; fatigue resistance; suspension bridge; frozen pin; crack initiation life; crack propagation life

Report Number

RDT-05-008 & RI-03-015

Document Type

Technical Report

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2005 University of Missouri-Rolla, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2005

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