{"id":{"repo_id":"texas","oai_identifier":"oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/131926"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/texas/oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/131926","repository":{"repo_id":"texas","name":"University of Texas","base_url":"https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Development of internally redundant steel box straddle caps","abstract":"Steel box straddle caps are an efficient solution for bridges located in congested urban environments when using a conventional pier is not possible due to the presence of intersecting roads beneath the bridge. Using steel box girders offers fabrication and erection advantages and high structural performance due to the high torsional stiffness of the box. However, steel box straddle caps are classified as Fracture Critical Members, requiring stringent design, fabrication, and in-service inspections to comply with the provisions of the Fracture Control Plan. Providing internal redundancy to steel box straddle caps to remove the Fracture Critical inspection requirements is highly desirable. It renders a higher degree of safety due to a reduced probability of failure, reduces traffic disruptions necessary for hands-on inspections, and produces significant savings for bridge owners. The research outlined in this dissertation explores two possible design approaches to provide internal redundancy to steel box straddle caps by (i) adding high-strength bars as a secondary tension element and (ii) providing cross-boundary fracture resistance between the components in tension. After completing the preliminary studies, a full-scale experimental program was conducted and complemented with finite element modeling. The results of the experimental testing and analytical studies are discussed, and design recommendations and examples for internally redundant steel box straddle caps are provided.","abstract_html":"Steel box straddle caps are an efficient solution for bridges located in congested urban environments when using a conventional pier is not possible due to the presence of intersecting roads beneath the bridge. Using steel box girders offers fabrication and erection advantages and high structural performance due to the high torsional stiffness of the box. However, steel box straddle caps are classified as Fracture Critical Members, requiring stringent design, fabrication, and in-service inspections to comply with the provisions of the Fracture Control Plan. Providing internal redundancy to steel box straddle caps to remove the Fracture Critical inspection requirements is highly desirable. It renders a higher degree of safety due to a reduced probability of failure, reduces traffic disruptions necessary for hands-on inspections, and produces significant savings for bridge owners. The research outlined in this dissertation explores two possible design approaches to provide internal redundancy to steel box straddle caps by (i) adding high-strength bars as a secondary tension element and (ii) providing cross-boundary fracture resistance between the components in tension. After completing the preliminary studies, a full-scale experimental program was conducted and complemented with finite element modeling. The results of the experimental testing and analytical studies are discussed, and design recommendations and examples for internally redundant steel box straddle caps are provided.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Zecchin, Esteban"],"institution":"The University of Texas at Austin","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Engelhardt, Michael D.","Helwig, Todd Aaron, 1965-"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Williamson, Eric B","Ravi-Chandar, Krishnaswa","Hebdon, Matthew H"],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-05","date_published":"2023-05","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:01:22Z","subjects":["Redundancy","Steel box straddle caps","Internal redundancy","Nonredundant steel tension member","Fracture critical","Fracture"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/59270"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/59270","href":"https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/59270","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/2152/131926","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Engelhardt, Michael D.","Helwig, Todd Aaron, 1965-"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Williamson, Eric B","Ravi-Chandar, Krishnaswa","Hebdon, Matthew H"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Zecchin, Esteban"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-03-08T00:28:09Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-03-08T00:28:09Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2023-05"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["The University of Texas at Austin"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Redundancy","Steel box straddle caps","Internal redundancy","Nonredundant steel tension member","Fracture critical","Fracture"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/2152/131926","https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/59270"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Steel box straddle caps are an efficient solution for bridges located in congested urban environments when using a conventional pier is not possible due to the presence of intersecting roads beneath the bridge. Using steel box girders offers fabrication and erection advantages and high structural performance due to the high torsional stiffness of the box. However, steel box straddle caps are classified as Fracture Critical Members, requiring stringent design, fabrication, and in-service inspections to comply with the provisions of the Fracture Control Plan. Providing internal redundancy to steel box straddle caps to remove the Fracture Critical inspection requirements is highly desirable. It renders a higher degree of safety due to a reduced probability of failure, reduces traffic disruptions necessary for hands-on inspections, and produces significant savings for bridge owners. The research outlined in this dissertation explores two possible design approaches to provide internal redundancy to steel box straddle caps by (i) adding high-strength bars as a secondary tension element and (ii) providing cross-boundary fracture resistance between the components in tension. After completing the preliminary studies, a full-scale experimental program was conducted and complemented with finite element modeling. The results of the experimental testing and analytical studies are discussed, and design recommendations and examples for internally redundant steel box straddle caps are provided."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Development of internally redundant steel box straddle caps"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Engelhardt, Michael D.","Helwig, Todd Aaron, 1965-"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Williamson, Eric B","Ravi-Chandar, Krishnaswa","Hebdon, Matthew H"],"dc:creator":["Zecchin, Esteban"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-03-08T00:28:09Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-03-08T00:28:09Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2023-05"],"dc:description.abstract":["Steel box straddle caps are an efficient solution for bridges located in congested urban environments when using a conventional pier is not possible due to the presence of intersecting roads beneath the bridge. Using steel box girders offers fabrication and erection advantages and high structural performance due to the high torsional stiffness of the box. However, steel box straddle caps are classified as Fracture Critical Members, requiring stringent design, fabrication, and in-service inspections to comply with the provisions of the Fracture Control Plan. Providing internal redundancy to steel box straddle caps to remove the Fracture Critical inspection requirements is highly desirable. It renders a higher degree of safety due to a reduced probability of failure, reduces traffic disruptions necessary for hands-on inspections, and produces significant savings for bridge owners. The research outlined in this dissertation explores two possible design approaches to provide internal redundancy to steel box straddle caps by (i) adding high-strength bars as a secondary tension element and (ii) providing cross-boundary fracture resistance between the components in tension. After completing the preliminary studies, a full-scale experimental program was conducted and complemented with finite element modeling. The results of the experimental testing and analytical studies are discussed, and design recommendations and examples for internally redundant steel box straddle caps are provided."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/2152/131926","https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/59270"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:subject":["Redundancy","Steel box straddle caps","Internal redundancy","Nonredundant steel tension member","Fracture critical","Fracture"],"dc:title":["Development of internally redundant steel box straddle caps"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"thesis:institution_name":["The University of Texas at Austin"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:01:22Z"}