In the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, a limit state is defined as “a condition beyond which the bridge or component ceases to satisfy the provisions for which it was designed.” Bridges designed using the limit-states philosophy of the LRFD Specifications must satisfy “specified limit states to achieve the objectives of constructability, safety and serviceability.” These objectives are met through the strength, service, fatigue-and-fracture and extreme-event limit states. This module provides bridge engineers with the background regarding the development and use of the various limit states contained in the LRFD Specifications.
Sections 1 and 3 of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 5th Edition discuss various aspects of loads. The load factors are tabulated in Tabl...
Fatigue in metals is the process of initiation and growth of cracks under the action of repetitive tensile loads. If crack growth is allowed to go on ...
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