Crack detection by static measurement in steel beams

Effects of crack on static behavior in steel box girder were investigated to identify the possibility of crack detection and location using conventionally measured static data including deflection and inclination. Finite element analysis with finely meshed 3-D models and experiments were performed for steel box girder with crack. To eliminate the variation according to load magnitude, compliance technique was applied to analysis of the result. Through this study, the quantitative relationship between crack size and structural responses of deflection and inclination were obtained as a form of relation-curve. This relation-curve can be utilized to evaluate crack size in the steel box girder bridge. The results also demonstrated that the location of crack can be estimated by static measurement.