• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.271-280
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• 2007

This paper presents the results of an experimental study to evaluate the redundancy in two plate-girder bridges, which are generally classified as non-redundant load path structures. The study was performed at a time when one of the two girders was damaged. The bottom lateral bracing was considered the experimental variable, and two 1/5-scale bridge specimens of simple span with and without a lateral bracing system were fabricated. Loading tests were first performed on the intact specimens without a cracked girder, within an elastic range. Thereafter, the ultimate loading tests were conducted on the damaged specimens with an induced crack at the center of a girder. The test results showed that the cross beams and the concrete deck redistributed some of the load to the uncracked girder, but the lateral bracing system played an important role in improving the redundancy during the damage and was also effective for load redistribution even when the bridge was intact.