EVALUATION OF THE ANCHOR BOLT COMPONENTS

KINZUA BRIDGE COLLAPSE

By Eric Kaufmann, Ph.D. and Robert Connor, Ph.D.
ATLSS Engineering Research Center, Lehigh University

Material Properties and Fracture Evaluation of Anchor Bolts

I. Material Properties

Physical and mechanical properties of the original 1882 foundation anchor bolts, and the collar and bolt
extension added in the 1900 re-construction were determined from a fractured assemblage recovered from
the site (see Figure 1). Chemical composition and metallurgical microstructure was determined for each
of the component materials. A tabulation of the compositions is provided in Table 1.

TABLE 1 – Chemical Composition of Anchorage Components

Wt%
C Mn P S Si
1882 Anchor Bolt
(1-1/4” dia.) 0.017 0.006 0.082 0.013 0.14
1900 Collar
(2-1/4” O.D.) 0.028 0.31 0.12 0.05 0.23
1900 Bolt
(1-1/2” dia.) 0.094 0.53 0.085 0.078 <0.001

Microstructures of the materials are shown in Figure 2. The microstructure and chemical composition of
the original 1882 1-1/4” anchor bolt is characteristic of wrought iron of this period with a very low carbon
ferrite matrix and high concentration of large elongated non-metallic inclusions. The collar and 1-1/2 in.
bolt added in the 1900 design was determined to be wrought iron and mild steel, respectively.

Figure 1 Typical Failed Anchorage Where Fracture Developed in the Original 1882 Anchor Bolt.

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 “Evaluation of the Anchor Bolt Components – Kinzua Viaduct Collapse”
by Eric Kaufman, Ph.D. & Robert Conner, Ph.D., ATLSS/Lehigh University

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 2 Microstructures of the Anchorage Components. a) 1882 Wrought Iron Anchor Bolt b) 1900
Wrought Iron Collar c) 1900 1-1/2 in. Steel Bolt. [Mag. 100X ]

Due to the small size of the collar and bolt extension and yielded condition of the fractured 1-1/4 in.
anchor bolt mechanical property tests were limited to hardness measurements in unyielded areas to
estimate the original tensile strength of the material. A summary of the hardness measurements and
corresponding estimated tensile strength of each component is given in Table 2. The measurements
indicate that the tensile strength of each of the component materials is similar with strengths ranging from
55 ksi to 62 ksi and typical of wrought iron and mild steel from this period.

TABLE 2 Mechanical Properties of Anchorage Components

Avg. Hardness Approx. Tensile Approx. Tensile

(HRB) Strength Capacity
(ksi) (kips)
1882 Anchor Bolt 70.6 62 76
(1-1/4” dia.)
1900 Collar 64.1 55 99
(2-1/4” O.D.)
1900 Bolt 68.8 60 84
(1-1/2” dia.)

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 “Evaluation of the Anchor Bolt Components – Kinzua Viaduct Collapse”
by Eric Kaufman, Ph.D. & Robert Conner, Ph.D., ATLSS/Lehigh University

II. Tensile Load Capacity

Also shown in Table 2 is the tensile load capacity of each anchorage component based upon the original
nominal dimensions. According to the original 1882 design drawings foundation anchor bolts were
fabricated from 1-1/4 in. “upset” bars where the upsetted end was threaded with a 1-1/2 in. thread.
Anchor bolt capacity shown in Table 2 is computed using the lesser 1-1/4 in. nominal bar diameter. The
nominal diameter of the collar was taken as 2-1/4 in. based upon measurements of several collars
recovered from the field.

Table 2 indicates that in its original condition the weakest component of the anchorage assembly was the
1-1/4 in. anchor bolt (76 kips). Furthermore, field observations of foundation anchor bolts indicated that,
in general, the greatest corrosion loss in the anchorage system appeared to occur in this bolt compared to
the collar or 1-1/2 in. steel bolt which tends to widen this strength disparity. Corrosion loss appeared to
vary from small as for the bolt shown in Figure 1 where the diameter in the fractured region was about 1.2
in. to approaching the full cross-section in locations below the foundation surface. Failure of the anchor
bolt under these circumstances is consistent with field observations of failed anchorages where the collar
was not cracked.

III. Fracture Examination

Visual and microscopic examination of 1-1/4 in. anchor bolt fractures indicated failure by a ductile
fracture mechanism resulting from tensile overload. Gross plastic deformation and necking was observed
in the fracture region as shown in Figure 3. Viewed at higher magnifications with a scanning electron
microscope (SEM) the fracture surface showed dimple fracture characteristic of ductile fracture (see
Figure 3 inset).

Figure 3 Typical 1-1/4 in. Dia. Anchor Bolt Fracture Showing Ductile Fracture.

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 “Evaluation of the Anchor Bolt Components – Kinzua Viaduct Collapse”
by Eric Kaufman, Ph.D. & Robert Conner, Ph.D., ATLSS/Lehigh University

Collar fractures with multiple longitudinal “splits” were observed in a large number of anchorages (see
Figure 4). Visual and microscopic examination of fractures indicated that some of these fractures existed
prior to the collapse. Figure 4 shows a collar crack surface after removing corrosion from the crack
surface. The flat and smooth surface with the absence of plastic deformation in the fracture region is
indicative of fatigue cracking. Viewed at higher magnifications with the SEM also supported fracture by a
fatigue mechanism (see Figure 4).

The fatigue cracks appear to have propagated through the entire cross-section of the collar under a lateral
cyclic load and effectively reduced the tensile capacity of the collar to nil prior to the collapse. An
additional crack part way through the collar wall likely developed during the collapse as the cracked
collar was pryed open. The crack surface is also seen in Figure 4 after fracturing the remaining cross-
section at cryogenic temperatures. Examination of the crack surface with the SEM indicated fracture by a
ductile fracture mechanism consistent with fracture during the collapse.

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 “Evaluation of the Anchor Bolt Components – Kinzua Viaduct Collapse”
by Eric Kaufman, Ph.D. & Robert Conner, Ph.D., ATLSS/Lehigh University

Fatigue Fracture

Ductile Fracture

Cleavage Fracture

Figure 4 Fatigue and Ductile Fracture Areas in a Failed Collar. (Cleavage Fracture Introduced in
Laboratory to Expose Crack Surfaces).