Modelling of load interaction and overload effect on fatigue damage of steel bridges

This paper studies the effects of load sequence and interaction, and overloading effect on the fatigue damage of bridges on the basis of a non-linear fatigue damage model. The model is derived from the theory of continuum damage mechanics for high-cycle fatigue. Fatigue behaviour at two levels of constant stress range is first discussed in detail. The formulation for the effective fatigue strength of the predamaged members is then derived, and the results predicted by the model are compared with the experimental data for two stress level tests and other results obtained from linear and double linear fatigue damage models. The variation of cycle ratio and fatigue life due to overloading is secondly investigated; the equations for evaluating the effect of overloading on fatigue damage accumulation on bridges at normal traffic loading are then derived. It has been demonstrated that the developed model can well describe the effect of load sequence and interaction and has also been verified by comparing the predicted results obtained by the model with the experimental data based on two levels of stress tests. The effect of accidental overloading on the fatigue damage of existing bridges can also be evaluated using the model. The model is applied to evaluate the fatigue damage and service life of the Tsing Ma Bridge, an essential portion of the transport network for the Hong Kong airport, under normal traffic loading and possible accidental overloading.