ABSTRACT
The fatigue resistance of a full-scale riveted railway bridge (or a highway bridge for that matter) is dependent on a large number of different factors. Some of these factors explain the difference in fatigue resistance between a full-scale riveted bridge structure and a small riveted virgin specimen manufactured in a laboratory environment. The additional factors, which have to be considered when estimating the fatigue life of a full-scale riveted bridge structure, are:
– Initial imperfections (i.e. crookedness, inclination, deflection, etc.) in the different elements as well as in the structure itself. Every deviation from the ideal condition induces secondary stresses, which shorten the fatigue life.
