ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: It is not uncommon for bridges with low clearance to be hit by over height vehicles. The extent of damage to steel girders can run from small dents or bends in the bottom flange, to the complete destruction of the girder and bridge. The options for repair usually include: (1) do nothing, (2) repair the damaged girder, (3) replace the damaged girders, or (4) replace the entire bridge. When the damage is so severe, the option to replace a girder or the entire bridge is usually obvious. When the damage is not so severe, the question of whether to repair the girder or not, and how, becomes difficult to answer. When do bends in a steel girder need to be repaired? Should the bridge be closed immediately to traffic or not? The answers to these questions are typically based on experience and engineering judgment.
