Hps Corrugated Web Girder Fabrication Innovations Final Report Part 4: Literature and Experimental Study of Strain Aging in Hps and Other Bridge Steels

An extensive literature covering the last 50 years has shown that all structural and bridge steels are potentially susceptible to strain aging. The most damage is done by cold strain itself. Strains in the 5% to 18% range can typically increase yield strength by 70% and typically increase tensile strength by 35%. Over the same strain range, tensile elongation will typically decrease by 30%. The Charpy V-notch impact transition temperatures will typically increase by 65F after similar strain. Aging by heating in the 500F to 800F range after cold strain will not increase the yield or tensile strength nor further reduce tensile elongation. Aging after cold strain will typically cause an additional 35F increase in the transition temperature.