Degree
Master of Science
Program
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Supervisor
Hanping Hong
Abstract
The study is focused on calibration of fatigue design wind pressure for sign, luminaire and traffic signal support under natural and truck-induced wind gusts. The design of the support structures in Canada is governed by the current Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC). However, the code is not specific on the fatigue design wind pressure (natural or truck-induced) for these structures. Although there are equivalent static natural and truck-induced wind pressures for fatigue design recommended in the provisions of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), none of relevant studies discussed the implied reliability by using these design pressures based on Canadian practice. Code calibration analyses of the sign, luminaire and traffic signal support under natural and truck-induced wind gusts were carried out in the study. For the calibration, the support structures were approximated by a linear elastic single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system, structural response with selected natural frequencies, damping ratios under natural and truck-induced wind gusts was estimated. A target reliability index of 4.25 for a service period of 75 years was adopted for the calibration. The calibration results were used to recommend fatigue design wind pressure for sign, luminaire and traffic signal support under both natural and truck-induced wind gusts. The recommended values could be directly adopted by the CHBDC.
Recommended Citation
Zu, Guigui, "Calibration of Fatigue Design Wind Pressure for Sign, Luminaire, and Traffic Signal Support" (2013). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 1533.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1533