Evaluation of Effects of Fire on the I-465 Mainline Bridges : Volume I

Details

• Alternative Title:
  JTRP Technical Reports
• Creators:
  Connor, Robert J. ; Varma, Amit H. ; Marcu, Sorin ; Sherman, Ryan J.
• Corporate Creators:
  Purdue University. Joint Transportation Research Program
• Corporate Contributors:
  Indiana Department of Transportation ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Environmental impacts
  • Fires
  • Steel bridges
  • Girders
  • Load tests
  • Fatigue (Mechanics) Fire
  • Bridge
  • Steel
  • Composite action
  • Girder
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/IN/JTRP-2012/12
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Indiana
• Edition:
  Final report.
• Corporate Publisher:
  Purdue University. Joint Transportation Research Program
• Abstract:
  On October 22, 2009, in Indianapolis, Indiana, a semi tanker carrying liquefied propane lost control on the underpass from I‐69 ; southbound to I‐465 eastbound, crashing beneath the east and westbound bridges carrying mainline I‐465 traffic. The tanker rolled, ; causing the tractor to catch fire and the propane tanker to explode. There were concerns the steel superstructure and the high‐strength ; (HS) bolts used in the beam splices were affected by the fire. Also, since the bridge deck was built composite with the steel ; superstructure, there were concerns the composite action might have been lost or diminished causing the bridge to not behave as it was ; originally designed. Therefore, the study was focused on identifying any short‐term or long‐term effects the bridge may have sustained ; due to the fire exposure. To address the short‐term effects, immediately after the accident, several core samples and HS bolts were ; removed and sent to independent testing laboratories. To establish any long‐term effects, field testing was performed over a period of ; approximately four (4) months. Weldable resistance strain gages were installed at key locations to understand the behavior of the ; bridge under load and to develop the stress‐range histograms. Both controlled load tests, using test trucks of known weight and ; geometry, and long-term monitoring of random traffic were performed as part of the study. ; The results presented in this report show the following: The explosion and subsequent fire did not negatively impact the properties of the steel in the main girders, nor the properties ; of the HS bolts; The explosion and subsequent fire did not negatively impact the overall load distribution nor adversely alter the behavior of ; the bridge; Controlled load testing and long‐term monitoring confirmed the steel girders are acting compositely with the concrete deck; Based on the results of the long‐term monitoring, infinite fatigue life is expected at all the monitored locations.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  SPR-3474
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/25244/dot_25244_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 12.54 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c3708c4bc55a4db611b532576b0f691ce004ff9291f8643f3d5e0bf4a2a3dd671716779157783a84b7f4dab8de97e5e9c93d2fdf9bb9fc2db3aab59eea664cd1