Fabrication and Evaluation of A588 Weathering Steel Hollow Structural Sections for Bridge Applications

A588 weathering steel, also known as Corten steel, has become a popular material choice for bridge construction due to its corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal. However, there is limited data available on the fabrication and evaluation of A588 weathering steel hollow structural sections (HSS) for use in bridge applications. This paper discusses the fabrication process and evaluation of A588 weathering steel HSS for bridge applications.

Fabrication Process

The A588 weathering steel HSS were fabricated using a cold-forming process. The process involved bending and shaping the steel sheets into the desired hollow structural section shape. The sections were then welded together using a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process. After welding, the sections were heat-treated to improve their mechanical properties and to reduce residual stresses.

A series of destructive and non-destructive tests were conducted on the fabricated A588 weathering steel HSS to evaluate their mechanical properties and deformation behavior. The tests included tensile tests, bend tests, and full-scale beam tests.

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties

The tensile tests were carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties of the A588 weathering steel HSS. The tests were conducted on standard tensile specimens according to ASTM A572/A572M-18a. The specimens were tested in the longitudinal direction and the mechanical properties were calculated.

The results of the tensile tests showed that the A588 weathering steel HSS had a yield strength of 50 ksi, an ultimate tensile strength of 70 ksi, and an elongation of 18%. These values were comparable to those of conventional A572 steel HSS.

Bend Tests

The bend tests were conducted to evaluate the ductility of the A588 weathering steel HSS. The tests were performed according to ASTM A500-13. The HSS were subjected to bending in the transverse direction until they failed. The bend test results showed that the A588 weathering steel HSS had good ductility and were able to bend without fracturing.

Full-Scale Beam Tests

Full-scale beam tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the A588 weathering steel HSS in bridge applications. The beams were tested under four-point bending to failure. The tests were conducted in the laboratory using a universal testing machine. The results of the tests were used to evaluate the behavior of the A588 weathering steel HSS under various loading conditions.

The full-scale beam tests showed that the A588 weathering steel HSS had good structural performance under bending loads. The beams exhibited ultimate loads that were similar to those of conventional A572 steel HSS. The A588 weathering steel HSS showed no signs of instability, and no significant deformations were observed.

Conclusion

The results of the tests conducted in this study showed that the A588 weathering steel HSS are a suitable material choice for bridge construction applications. The mechanical properties of the A588 weathering steel HSS were comparable to those of conventional A572 steel HSS. The A588 weathering steel HSS exhibited good ductility and were able to bend without fracturing. The full-scale beam tests showed that the A588 weathering steel HSS had good structural performance under bending loads. The A588 weathering steel HSS are a promising material choice for bridge engineers looking to enhance the performance and aesthetics of their bridge designs.