Bridge Steel Mechanical Properties

The Bridge Steel Mechanical Properties 4 hour PDH online course is a part of the Materials category courses. This course provides guidelines on structural steel products that are used for steel bridge construction. The primary focus is on steel plate and rolled shape products that are available under the ASTM A709 Specification. This includes both a general introduction to steel making practices and a detailed discussion of mechanical properties. It also includes a brief introduction to other steel products such as bolts, castings, cables, and stainless steels that are often used for steel bridge connections and components.

The mechanical properties of bridge steels are presented based on the A 709 specification. The stress-strain behavior of the various steel grades is presented to provide an understanding of strength and ductility. Fracture toughness is discussed to relate how the Charpy V-notch test relates to fracture resistance in structures. Finally, the methodology for determining atmospheric corrosion resistance is presented along with the requirements for classification as “weathering steels” for use in un-coated applications.

This course is based on US DOT Federal Highway Administration publication No. FHWA-HIF-16-002 – Vol. 1 “Bridge Steels and Their Mechanical Properties”.

This course is intended for use by civil and structural engineers, materials engineers, design and construction professionals, owners, facility managers, students and others interested in learning about steel materials and mechanical properties of steel.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand steel specifications; materials, grades, bolts, rivets, wires, cables, casing and others
• Describe the process of steel manufacturing
• Explain mechanical properties of steel such as strength, ductility, hardness, fatigue resistance, lamellar tearing and testing procedures
• Discuss welding and fabrication methods and procedures