Evaluation of Vibration Mitigation Techniques for KDOT Cantilever and Butterfly Sign Structures

Cantilever and butterfly sign structures are susceptible to free vibrations induced by natural wind and truck gust loadings, as well as “galloping” responses to wind. When these vibrations are left uncontrolled, they can lead to cracking at the box connections between the cantilevered truss and the vertical support. Calculations performed by Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) engineers have indicated that the box connection details are susceptible to fatigue, and in fact, have recently replaced a cantilever sign that experienced severe cracking. Solutions are urgently needed to lower the vibration-induced fatigue stresses at box connections in these structures to effectively lengthen the safe useable lives of these expensive and low-redundancy structures.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $116774
• Contract Numbers:

  K-TRAN: KU-20-2

  RE-0793-01

  C2148

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Kansas Department of Transportation

  Eisenhower State Office Building
  700 SW Harrison Street
  Topeka, KS  United States  66603-3754
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Kansas Center for Research, Incorporated

  2291 Irving Hill Drive, Campus West
  Lawrence, KS  United States  66045
• Principal Investigators:

  Bennett, Caroline

• Start Date: 20190701
• Expected Completion Date: 20231231
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Box beams; Cantilevers; Evaluation; Fatigue cracking; Gusts; Loads; Service life; Sign supports; Vibration
• Identifier Terms: Kansas Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Environment; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01751172
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Kansas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: K-TRAN: KU-20-2, RE-0793-01, C2148
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 1 2020 1:47PM