Fatigue reliability analysis of steel bridge welding member by fracture mechanics method

This paper attempts to develop the analytical model of estimating the fatigue damage using a linear elastic fracture mechanics method. The stress history on a welding member, when a truck passed over a bridge, was defined as a block loading and the crack closure theory was used. These theories explain the influence of a load on a structure. This study undertook an analysis of the stress range frequency considering both dead load stress and crack opening stress. A probability method applied to stress range frequency distribution and the probability distribution parameters of it was obtained by Maximum likelihood Method and Determinant. Monte Carlo Simulation which generates a probability variants (stress range) output failure block loadings. The probability distribution of failure block loadings was acquired by Maximum likelihood Method and Determinant. This can calculate the fatigue reliability preventing the fatigue failure of a welding member. The failure block loading divided by the average daily truck traffic is a predictive remaining life by a day. Fatigue reliability analysis was carried out for the welding member of the bottom flange of a cross beam and the vertical stiffener of a steel box bridge by the proposed model. Results showed that the primary factor effecting failure time was crack opening stress. It was important to decide the crack opening stress for using the proposed model. Also according to the 50% reliability and 90%, 99.9% failure times were indicated.