The Steel Market Development Institute a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute has published the Guide Specification for Highway Bridge Fabrication with HPS 100W (HPS 690W) Steel for Non Fracture Critical Applications. This document provides bridge owners, designers and fabricators with the latest recommended methodology to fabricate and weld structures using ASTM A709 or AASHTO M270, Grade HPS 100W (HPS 690W) steel.
The guide is based on continued research with High Performance Steel fabrication and welding practices conducted under a cooperative agreement sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, the US Navy and SMDI. Based on research, the guide includes certain consumables for the submerged arc welding, shielded metal arc welding flux cored arc welding and gas metal arc welding processes. It is highly recommended for bridge professionals who currently work with steel or are interested in learning more about HPS bridges.
The research is overseen by SMDI’s Bridge Steel Steering Committee and the Welding Advisory Group, made up of nationally recognized experts that include steel plate manufacturers, welding consumable manufacturers, steel bridge fabricators, bridge owners, industry, academia and other experts.
High Performance Steel made a rapid entry into the bridge industry. The first HPS 70W bridge was placed in service in December 1997, only three years after the onset of the cooperative research effort. Today, it is estimated that there are more than 450 HPS bridges in service in 44 states.
