Evaluation of Holes Fabricated Using Plasma Arc Cutting
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2020-08-01
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Abstract:Modern plasma-cutting equipment and techniques can produce high-quality holes more economically than drilling and punching. However, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design and construction specifications do not permit the use of plasma-cut holes in primary bridge members due to a lack of experimental data demonstrating their fatigue and tensile strength. Additionally, it is uncertain if holes fabricated using plasma arc cutting meet the AASHTO requirements for hole size accuracy. This research shows that round open holes fabricated using plasma arc cutting would be an AASHTO category E fatigue detail. Bearing connections with nonpretensioned bolts installed in plasma-cut holes would be classified as category E′. Both results represent lower fatigue resistance compared to drilled or punched holes. Most tension members produced a tensile strength equal to or exceeding the theoretical nominal tensile strength. However, several tension members did not attain the theoretical nominal strength and a reduction factor was necessary when calculating the tensile resistance of a member with plasma-cut holes. Tension testing at low temperatures revealed that members with conventional plasma-cut holes can fail with brittle fracture and insignificant inelastic deformation. Lastly, the four fabricators used for this study provided a mostly consistent hole diameter over numerous samples. However, variation in diameter was large enough that close quality control was required
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