HS_JoSE_Paper1_text_..-PurdueUniversity.docVIP

STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF STEELS SUBJECTED TO MULTIPLE CYCLES OF DAMAGE FOLLOWED BY HEATING REPAIR Keith J. Kowalkowski and Amit H. Varma ABSTRACT Experimental investigations were conducted to evaluate the effects of multiple cycles of damage followed by heating repair on the structural properties and fracture toughness of A36, A588, and A7 bridge steels. The test specimens were subjected to multiple cycles of tensile damage followed by compressive restraining stress and heat shortening repair. The damage and repair parameters considered were the damage strain (?d), the restraining stress (?r), the number of damage-repair cycles (Nr), and the maximum heating temperature (Tmax). Seventy-five A36, A588, and A7 steel specimens were subjected to multiple damage-repair cycles with Tmax limited to the recommended limit of 650oC. Sixteen additional A36 steel specimens were subjected to multiple damage-repair cycles with Tmax greater than the recommended limit (Tmax=760 or 840oC). Standard material specimens were fabricated from the damaged-repaired steel specimens and tested according to the applicable ASTM standards. The results from the standard material tests indicate that that multiple damage-repair cycles have a relatively small influence (± 15%) on the elastic modulus, yield stress, and ultimate stress, and a significant influence on the ductility (% elongation) and fracture toughness of damaged-repaired bridge steels. These effects of the multiple damage-repair cycles on the fundamental structural properties and fracture toughness of various bridge steels are summarized in the paper. Keywords: heat treatment, steel bridges, notch toughness, stress, strain, hardnessINTRODUCTION The fascia beams of steel bridges are occasionally damaged by collisions with over-height trucks. The damage primarily includes out-of-plane bending and twisting of the steel fascia beam, and in several cases fracture of the diaphragm-to-beam connections, and denting, gouging, and cracking