Statistical Study on Imperfections of Steel Webs

Abstract

This paper presents a statistical study on the actual imperfections and their relations to the strength of webplates and their stiffeners of bridge superstructures. The field measurements, data acquisition, and processing were undertaken by a special task committee of the Society of Steel Construction of Japan from 1977–1978. The measurements were performed during the temporary assembly of the structures at workshops, where several panels were subjected to the survey such as those at the central and quarter span points for simply supported bridges, and furthermore, at the intermediate supports for continuously supported bridges. Through statistical analyses, and fractiles, the probabilities of exceedance and nonexceedance of the imperfections and the strengths, respectively, are evaluated.