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A Bridge Management System for Elevated Steel Highways
Author(s) -
Kitada Toshiyuki,
Maekawa Yorimichi,
Nakamura Ippei,
Horie Yoshihei
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
computer‐aided civil and infrastructure engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.773
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1467-8667
pISSN - 1093-9687
DOI - 10.1111/0885-9507.00179
Subject(s) - bridge (graph theory) , girder , forensic engineering , engineering , work (physics) , transport engineering , structural engineering , civil engineering , computer science , construction engineering , mechanical engineering , medicine , surgery
The Hanshin Expressway network extends some 200 km, forming the traffic arteries of the heavily urbanized Hanshin area surrounding Osaka, the second largest city in Japan. Due to restrictions on construction in mature cities, 93 percent of the total length of this network is elevated, and 77 percent of the elevated structures use steel girders that have numerous curves to allow complicated road alignments. These elevated structures are showing signs of damage after serving for almost 30 years under chronic overload conditions. This article describes the various types of damage that are frequently detected in elevated steel bridges and, focusing on typical fatigue‐induced damage, reviews the repair process that begins with the investigation of causes and potential repair methods and continues through the implementation and inspection of the repair work. Propositions are presented that may enable the design of more durable steel bridges. In addition, this article briefly discusses a database system that is being used for the maintenance and management of steel bridges.