Section 12 of AWS D1.5, Bridge Welding Code, addresses fracture control. Shouldn't this apply to all structures since fracture avoidance is so important?

The Engineer responsible for a product or structure must determine what codes apply to a project. Further, the Engineer must develop job specifications that address the specific requirement for specific projects. The Engineer must also determine whether D1.5 Section 12 is appropriate or not.

The scope and intent of Section 12 should be understood before it is invoked on a project. It is intended to apply to "fracture critical members" (FCMs), which are defined in D1.5, paragraph 12.2.2. It states: "Fracture critical members or member components are tension members or tension components of bending members (including those subject to reversal of stress), the failure of which would be expected to result in collapse of the bridge."

Two elements are important in this definition: tension and collapse. FCMs must be tension members or tension components. Columns that see only compressional loading cannot be FCMs.

The collapse component of this definition has to do with the overall ... more.

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