PMSS Project Details

Project ID:	FHWA-PROJ-07-0014
Project Name:	Galvanizing Effect on the Fatigue Performance of Sign and Signal Socket Connection Details
Status:	Active
Contact:	Last Name: Ocel First Name: Justin Telephone: 202-493-3080 E-mail: justin.ocel@dot.gov
Organization:	Federal Highway Administration - Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
Office:	Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Team:	Bridge and Foundation Engineering Team
Roadmap/Focus area(s):	Infrastructure Research and Technology Strategic Plan and Roadmap
Project Description:	In 2007, a failed Virginia cantilevered sign pole was forensically investigated at Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center. The investigation yielded inconclusive results, but evidence of zinc on the fracture surface raised a suspicion that a crack may have been preexisting from fabrication. In discussions with industry experts, there appeared to be a growing problem in the United States with hot-cracking or liquid metal embrittlement of these details. This project was a first step to addressing the concern that began to define the reduction in fatigue strength due to galvanizing of socket connection details. The project fatigue tested 24 socket connection details from two different fabricators. Both bare and galvanized specimens were tested from each fabrication source.
Laboratories:	Structures Laboratory
Start Date:	July 1, 2007
End Date:	October 1, 2011
Funding Amount:	$150,000.00
FHWA Program Name:	High-Performing Steel Bridge
Goals:	The key project objective was to quantify the reduction in fatigue strength of welded tube-to-plate socket connections from galvanization.
Project Type:	Onsite
Background Information:	Data not yet available
Test Methodology:	Full-scale experimental
Other Information:	Data not yet available
Partners:	Data not yet available
More Information URL(s):
Fieldtest:	Data not yet available
Expected Benefits:	Data not yet available
Deliverables:	Name: Final report. Product Type(s): Research report, Techbrief Description: The report will cover the methodology of the overall research, data collected, and interpretation of that data. Audiences: Researchers, State highway agencies Secondary Audiences:
Related URL(s):
Project Findings:	Data not yet available
FHWA Topics:	Roads and Bridges--Structures Roads and Bridges--Design Research/Technologies--Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
TRT Terms:	Fatigue (Mechanics) Fatigue Cracking Galvanizing Tubular Structures Traffic Signs Infrastructure Materials
FHWA Disciplines:	Structures
Subject Areas:	Bridges and other structures Research