Behavior and Design of Dapped Steel Plate Girders

The objective of this project is to provide a technical basis for the standardized design of dapped girder ends on steel highway bridges. The dapped end girder details investigated in this project, both as test specimens and analytical models, were based upon designs that are in service in the state of Texas. Analytical and full-scale experimental investigations were performed to provide information about the fatigue behavior and the ultimate strength behavior of the dapped girder ends considered in the study. Several engineering recommendations are forwarded based upon the results of the investigations.