Since the opening is located near the contraflexure point, the dead load stress is essentially zero. The fatigue stress at the opening location assuming there are no holes in the bottom flange is about 2.3 ksi. For a plate infinitely wide with a hole in it the stress riser is about 3. This...
We're designing a bridge per the LRFD specifications. Our DOT requires access openings in the bottom flange spaced at not more than 300 feet. For our 3-span bridge this requires openings in the second span. LRFD says to place these in low stress regions. Clearly, anywhere in the second span...
There are quite a few more economical solutions than an arch bridge. Unless the client has specifically requested the bridge be an arch I would lean towards a more standard bridge.
LRFD has criteria for the effective slab width for a conventional cast-in-place deck on steel girders. Has anyone designed a plate girder using an exodermic deck? If so, what did you do for your transformed section?
