Rehabilitation of Welded Joints by Ultrasonic Impact Treatment (UIT)

Author:  Gunther, Kuhlmann, Durr
Source:  IABSE Symposium Lisbon 2005
Doc ID:  2005132
Year of Publication:  2005
Abstract:  
Summary Due to the increasing traffic and life loading fatigue becomes of high relevance in order to maintain the integrity of existing steel bridge structures. Poor construction details which used to be regarded as less important when applied e.g. to road bridges are nowadays often the starting point of fatigue cracks. Repair and strengthening of welded details are thus of great importance in order to extend the life time and safety of existing bridges. For welded details under fatigue loading one effective possibility to do this is the application of local post-weld treatment methods. This paper presents the application of a relatively new post-weld treatment method called