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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
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    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>SPR-4841:  Investigation into the Fatigue Strength and Ductility of Steel Plates with Holes made from Plasma Cutting Methods</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2238797</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will perform a study to examine and synthesize all of the existing data related to the use of plasma cutting to place holes in steel components. While this method is very efficient resulting in cost and time savings, questions remain regarding the possible effect on ductility and fatigue life as compared to traditional hole drilling techniques. The results will be used to craft a detailed experimental program should additional data be needed.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:39:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2238797</guid>
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      <title>Use of Toughened Epoxies to Fill Gaps Between Plates for Steel Bridge Construction</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2100880</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will evaluate the use of toughened epoxies to fill gaps between plates for steel bridge construction.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2023 11:17:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2100880</guid>
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      <title>Investigation of Dual Grade / Hybrid Steel Plate Girders Utilizing Stainless Steel</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1905195</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The corrosion of steel bridges is an ongoing concern for bridge owners due to maintenance and replacement costs. Recently, there have been successful corrosion resistance tests performed on ASTM A709 Grade 50CR (stainless) steel in plate girder bridges. Before stainless steel’s adoption into ASTM A709 the steel was marketed under ASTM A1010 and has currently been used in 5 states (OR, CA, IA, PA, VA) and Canada. Utilizing stainless steel (Grade 50CR) for the portion of the steel girder near bridge deck joints and Grade 50, 50W, etc. for the remainder of the girder, provides a means to mitigate deterioration in areas exposed to run-off from failed deck joints. Targeting the use of Grade 50CR to portions of the bridge requires bolting or welding stainless steel to conventional steel. The dual grade plate girder created by connecting stainless steel to conventional steel provides a reduction in the life cycle maintenance costs and increases the service life of the steel plate girder bridge. However, the connection of the dual grade plates may be prone to galvanic corrosion or require fabrication processes that differ from conventional plate girder fabrication processes. To take advantage of the corrosion resistant cost savings of a dual grade girder, research is needed to address the galvanic corrosion and fabrication of the dual grade connection.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to examine the feasibility of connecting bridge-construction approved ASTM stainless steel (currently only Grade 50CR is approved) to conventional steel (Grade 36, 50, 50W, etc.) through welding or bolting and to develop guidelines to assist designers and fabricators when connecting stainless steel plates to conventional steel plates in the superstructure of highway bridges. The guidelines would be considered a supplemental document to the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Construction Specifications.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2022 18:54:37 GMT</pubDate>
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