U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000


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Bridges & Structures

Note: This document was superseded in March 2023 by: Manual for Heat Straightening, Heat Curving and Cold Bending of Bridge Components

Heat Straightening Repair for Damaged Steel Bridges

Superseded: Updated Form 1700.7
1. Report No.
FHWA-IF-99-004
2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle Heat-straightening Repairs of Damaged Steel Bridges A Manual of Practice and Technical Guide 5. Report Date
October 1998
6. Performing Organization Code
 
7. Author(s)
R. Richard Avent, David Mukai
8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Structural Damage Control
13524 Mary Edith Place
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-96-X-00040
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Office of Bridge Technology
Infrastructure CBU
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Final Report
Jan 1997-Dec 1998
14. Sponsoring Agency Code
15. Supplementary Notes
Krishna Verma, Senior Welding Engineer, Agreement Officer's Technical Manager
Office of Bridge Technology, Infrastructure CBU, Federal Highway Administration
16. Abstract

The purpose of this manual is to provide comprehensive guidelines on heat straightening repair techniques for damaged steel bridge members. The manual is designed to be used in conjunction with a multimedia instructional computer program and video produced as part of this project.

The manual is divided into three parts. Part I provides a background and overview of the heat-straightening process. The introductory chapter defines the fundamental types of damage amenable to heat-straightening repair. Chapter 2 describes the basics of heat straightening including: Why heat straightening works, types of heats, basic damage and heating patterns, equipment and its use and practical considerations. Chapter 3 describes methods of assessing, planning and conducting successful repairs along with common mistakes to avoid

Part II is a technical guide to heat straightening directed primarily to engineers. Chapters 4-6 provide details on affects of heating on material properties of steel, behavior of flat plates and response of rolled shapes subjected to heat straightening.

Chapter 7 provides technical information on damaged composite beams and proper methods to repair them. Chapter 8 addresses axially loaded members and Chapter 9 discusses local damage. For all cases the proper heating patterns are used and the response is measured. Results are illustrated graphically and methods are given for predicting behavior.

Part III contains guides, specifications and reference material. A comprehensive literature review is given in Chapter 10. A concise engineering guide to heat straightening is given in Chapter 11. A set of recommended specifications is given in Chapter 12 for selecting a heat straightening contractor as well as technical specifications which can be incorporated into a contract. Finally, a bibliography, glossary and list of nomenclature are given in Chapters 13-15. Revisions and errata are included in Appendix.

17. Key Words
Bridges, steel, heat straightening, damage repair
18. Distribution Statement
19. Security Classif. (of this report)
Unclassified
20. Security Classif, (of this page)
Unclassified
21. No. of Pages
253
22. Price

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

Updated: 10/05/2023
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000