Bearing Stiffener Spacing

[whatname]

Is anyone aware of guidelines for spacing of multiple-leg bearing stiffeners for plate girders? I would think that there would be minimum spacing requirements from a fabrication point of view, and perhaps a maximum spacing requirement from a design point of view. However, AASHTO does not appear to address this.

 

[BridgeEI]

You could look at aashto/nsba's guidelines for steel girder drawing details. The only thing I can think of right off hand is when checking the capacity of the stiffener. if the spacing is close, you'll have to include its properties in the calculations. Something like 9 times web thickness each side or something along those lines. I'd have to dig through the code and remember exactly what it was....

 

[bridgebuster]

It's a fabrication thing. I recall an old rule of thumb: spacing = 45 degrees +1", i.e. if your stiffener is 7" wide, space them at 8" minimum. This way a welder has room to get the stick in there.

 

[whatname]

Thanks for the input.

 

[TomDOT]

Unless you're using weathering steel, someone will also need to blast clean and paint in there, both in the shop and periodically in the field.