Fatigue and Repair of Steel Bridges

This specialized webinar provides a comprehensive understanding of fatigue behavior in steel bridges, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools necessary for steel bridge fatigue assessment, monitoring, and analysis. Through a structured program, participants will explore the theoretical foundations of high-cycle fatigue, gaining insight into the fundamental causes of fatigue failures, modern analysis methods, and the Eurocode recommendations governing fatigue assessment. A key focus of the webinar is on monitoring techniques, covering visual inspection, non-destructive testing (NDT), and sensor-based structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. Participants will critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of these approaches to develop a well-rounded understanding of bridge local monitoring. The webinar applies lessons from real-world case studies to showcase the practical implementation of fatigue assessment methodologies, focusing on data collection, numerical modeling, stress concentration analysis, and dynamic load-structure interaction modeling to bridge theory with practice. Additionally, participants will explore remedial measures, from conventional repair techniques to advanced strengthening solutions based on damage severity. Designed for students and bridge engineers, this webinar offers an opportunity to develop expertise in fatigue assessment, combining structural analysis with hands-on application strategies to enhance the durability and safety of steel bridges.

Objectives

• Comprehend fundamentals of high-cycle fatigue in steel bridges
• Explore Eurocode fatigue specifications for steel bridges.
• Understand the key steps of the fatigue assessment process.
• Gain knowledge of various instruments used for fatigue damage assessment and monitoring.
• Develop an understanding of uncertainties in sensor-based monitoring systems.
• Evaluate appropriate remedial measures based on damage severity.
• Learn conventional and advanced repair techniques.

Course Outline

Session 1: High-Cycle Fatigue in Steel Bridges: Theoretical Background (2 hours) | May 28th, 2025

• Primary causes of fatigue failures.
• Current approaches for fatigue analysis.
• Eurocode fatigue provisions (S-N method and others).
• Fatigue assessment procedures for existing steel bridges.
• Load information, load effects estimation, and uncertainty handling.

Session 2: Monitoring Fatigue in Steel Bridges (2 hours) | May 30th, 2025

• Identification of fatigue cracks through visual inspection and non-destructive testing (NDT).
• Standard sensor technologies for monitoring global and local bridge performance, including acceleration-based, displacement-based, and strain-based systems.
• Strengths and limitations of these techniques in addressing fatigue-related challenges.

Session 3: Practical Applications: Case Studies in Steel Bridges Fatigue Assessment (2 hours) | June 24th, 2025

• Data collection and analysis from monitoring systems.
• Numerical methods for evaluating fatigue damage and stress concentration factors.
• Dynamic load-structure interaction models: how they work.
• Practical examples to illustrate these concepts.

Session 4: Remedial measures, Repair and Strengthening of Steel Bridges (2 hours) | June 26th, 2025

• Conventional methods for remedial measures, repair, strengthening, or demolition, depending on damage severity.
• Advanced trends, such as additive manufacturing and automated processes, with a focus on their potential applications in bridge repair.

Coordinator

Alessandro Menghini is a Structural Engineer and researcher in the Department of Architecture, Built Environment, and Construction Engineering at Politecnico di Milano in Italy. His work centers on adopting advanced technologies to transform the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of infrastructure, contributing to the sector's transition toward digitalization and sustainability. His current research spans two key areas:

• Existing Bridge Safety and Infrastructure Long-Term Performance: Alessandro is involved in monitoring and assessing the safety and durability of metal railway bridges. His research focuses on analyzing their operational behavior using acceleration, vibration, and strain sensors, with an emphasis on investigating fatigue and stress concentration.
• Innovative Structural Solutions for Construction: He is studying the development of advanced structural solutions through laser cutting technologies and metal additive manufacturing. His research seeks to enhance structural performance and ensure long-term integrity, particularly with regard to fatigue resistance. Additionally, he explores the application of these innovative processes in the automated repair of existing structures.

More informations: fundec@tecnico.ulisboa.pt