ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a double experimental and analytical fatigue residual life prediction of a steel truss-type railway bridge constructed between 1913 and 1915. The experimental part of the study involved full-scale fatigue testing of (i) a full-scale bridge span and (ii) an upper crossbeam. Both structures belong to a twin bridge of that under study. Both tests considered an extensive monitoring system to capture the possible nucleation and propagation of fatigue cracks. The analytical part of the study consisted of applying the fracture mechanics theory in advanced numerical models, and this approach confirmed the crack nucleation and propagation obtained in the experimental part. These studies were also used to define a monitoring method to help in decision making in case of possible fatigue failures. Even though other researchers had previously carried out fatigue tests on full-scale riveted bridge elements, this study is unique in that it is the first time a full-scale bridge has been subjected to fatigue tests.
