Residual stresses and distortions were measured during various stages of fabrication and erection of the Milford Haven Bridge. Welding caused compressive residual stresses in the plate panels and tension in the stiffeners. The panels distorted in the direction of the stiffened side of the plate. Grit blasting and transporting caused an apparent reduction in the plate stress accompanied by a small increase in this distortion. These processes affected the magnitude of the stresses but not their distribution within a plate panel. Fabrication caused rather larger stresses than those estimated using the Merrison Rules, but distortions were kept within Merrison tolerances.
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References
1.
Inquiry into the basis of design and method of erection of steel box girder bridges Interim design and workmanship rules, 1973 (Department of the Environment, London).
