Custom Prefabricated ASTM A588 Corten Steel Plate Truss Bridge with Trial Assembly

This custom prefabricated plate truss bridge is built to order for permanent and temporary crossings that demand a long service life with minimum maintenance. All main structural members are fabricated from ASTM A588 high-strength low-alloy weathering steel, a material that forms a stable oxide patina over time and eliminates the need for periodic repainting.

Every bridge is trial-assembled in our workshop before shipment, so camber, splice fit, and bolt-hole alignment are proven before the steel ever leaves the factory. Delivered as clearly tagged modular sections, the bridge is erected on-site with bolted connections only—typically reducing installation time by 60–70% compared with conventionally built bridges.

Engineering & Performance Specifications

1. Material & Metallurgical Performance
The bridge is primarily constructed from ASTM A588 Grade A/B high-strength low-alloy weathering steel, with alternatives such as A572 Gr.50 and Q355NH available upon request. This material yields a minimum of 345 MPa and is specifically alloyed with copper, chromium, and nickel. Under alternating wet and dry conditions, it naturally develops a dense, self-healing oxide layer (patina) that acts as an integrated corrosion barrier. This provides a corrosion resistance index 2 to 8 times higher than ordinary carbon steel, ensuring a structural service life exceeding 50 years without the need for a scheduled painting cycle.

2. Structural Configuration & Load Capacity
The truss layout can be engineered into Warren, Pratt, Baltimore, or fully customized geometries to suit specific site aesthetics, clearance constraints, and span requirements. The bridge is designed to handle rigorous live loads, including AASHTO HS20-44, HS25, or HL-93, as well as client-specified custom load classes. Advanced fatigue and deflection analyses are conducted to ensure structural integrity under dynamic traffic and pedestrian loads.

3. Connection & Erection System
All site connections are designed as high-strength friction-grip bolted joints using ASTM A325 or A490 bolts. We completely eliminate field welding, on-site drilling, and hole reaming. Because every splice plate and node is match-drilled in our shop and verified during the full-span trial assembly, the bridge modules bolt together seamlessly, significantly reducing crane time, labor costs, and site safety risks.

4. Geometric Customization & Camber Control
There is no fixed catalogue size. The span length, deck width, truss depth, and vertical clearance are fully engineered to your structural drawings or site survey data. Critical to long-span trusses is camber control; we pre-set the camber in our jigs and physically verify it during the factory trial assembly. This guarantees that once the bridge is erected on-site, it achieves the precise profile and alignment designed by the engineer.

5. Compliance & Quality Standards
The bridge is designed to AASHTO LRFD and fabricated under AWS D1.5 welding codes. We also offer compliance with EN 1090 up to EXC3 for European and international projects. The entire process is backed by ISO 9001 quality management, with third-party design verification available upon request.

Material Advantage: Why ASTM A588?

• Self-Healing: Weathering steel develops a dense, self-healing protective layer that slows further corrosion.

• High Durability: Corrosion resistance is typically 2–8 times that of ordinary carbon structural steel.

• Zero Maintenance: No painting cycle means near-zero maintenance cost over the life of the bridge.

• Finish Options: Bare patina, painted, or hot-dip galvanized finish selected according to the visual and environmental requirements of the project.

Engineering & Custom Design

• In-House Detailing: Structural calculation and detailing from client drawings, site surveys, or performance requirements.

• Approval Process: 3D model and preliminary design submitted for approval before fabrication.

• Third-Party Verification: International code compliance and third-party design verification available on request.

Fabrication, Quality Control & Trial Assembly

• Precision Processing: CNC cutting, automatic submerged-arc welding, straightening, and shot blasting to Sa2.5.

• Strict Inspection: Dimensional inspection at every stage; weld quality checked by UT and MT.

• Full Traceability: Traceable heat numbers and mill certificates for all main plates.

• Trial Assembly (Core Feature):

  • Shop trial assembly of the complete truss or matched segments on level beds.

  • Verification of camber, overall geometry, splice fit, and bolt-hole alignment.

  • Matched marking of every member and connection with the erection sequence.

  • Disassembly, protective packing, and sequence-based loading.

​

Surface & Deck Options

• Surface Finish:

  • Uncoated Weathering Steel: Natural patina, lowest lifecycle cost.

  • Hot-Dip Galvanizing: To ASTM A123 / ISO 1461 for aggressive environments.

  • Paint Systems: To ISO 12944 C3–C5, two-coat or three-coat epoxy/polyurethane.

• Anti-Slip Treatment: Grating, checker plate, or sprayed aggregate.

• Deck & Accessories: Steel plate, reinforced concrete, timber deck, or open grating. Guardrails, handrails, kerbs, expansion joints, drainage, and lighting brackets available.

Applications

• Highway and rural road crossings

• Pedestrian and cycle bridges

• Temporary and emergency bridges

• Mining and industrial access bridges

• Agricultural and forestry access

• Park and landscape bridges

• Stream and river crossings

• Replacement of deteriorated existing structures

Delivery, Logistics & Documentation

• Logistics: Members bundled and steel-frame crated, connections tagged by assembly sequence. Container or break-mulk loading plan prepared for the most economical freight.

• Lead Time: Production generally 30–45 days after drawing approval.

• Trade Terms: FOB, CIF, CFR, and DAP terms available.

• Documentation Package: Mill test certificates, WPS/PQR, dimensional inspection reports, trial assembly report, NDT reports, packing list, erection drawings, and O&M manual.

• After-Sales Support: Installation supervision or on-site technical guidance available. Spare bolts, bearings, and wearing parts supplied. 24-hour technical response.

About Our Company

Hangzhou FAMOUS Steel Engineering Co., Ltd. is an integrated structural steel manufacturer and global exporter based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Certified to ISO 9001 and CE (EN 1090), we provide one-stop services from design and detailing to fabrication, surface treatment, and export delivery. Our in-house capabilities ensure that every bridge component is manufactured to exact tolerances, keeping your project under one roof from drawing to shipment.

🌐 Websites: www.famoussteel.com | www.steelfabricat.com | www.structural-steelbuilding.com

How to Order

Send us your span, deck width, design load, site conditions, and any reference drawings. Our engineering team will return a preliminary design, 3D sketch, and quotation within 5 working days.

Contact us today with your bridge project requirements for a tailored, cost-effective prefabricated steel solution.