ABSTRACT
Due to the recent increase in traffic and vehicle weight, bridges are under severe service. As a result, many fatigue damages have been found during periodic inspections. Since it is expected that more fatigue damage will occur in the future, it is important to develop efficient and inexpensive maintenance methods. Therefore, in this study, experiments are conducted using small specimens that reproduce the out-of-plane gussets of steel bridges to verify the effectiveness of crack detection sensor. The specimens consist of a steel plate 90 mm wide, 700 mm long, and 12 mm thick, with a gusset plate 50 mm wide, 150 mm long, and 12 mm thick welded to it. Both materials were made of steel SM490 material and were not painted. The relationships between the response by the crack detection sensor and the conditions of fatigue crack are discussed.
