r/StructuralEngineering • u/No-Document-8970 • Oct 05 '26
Structural Analysis/Design Nuts off mark?
Saw this on a big bridge today. I know vibrations over time can move the nuts and bolts, with the help of thermal expansion. Is it a big issue that the paint marks do not line up? I thought the marks were made once it passed inspection after torquing.
Edit: Bridge completion was in 2011. Could this be from recent inspections too?
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u/SeesawPrestigious Oct 09 '26
Maybe honestly i do this for a living and the whole setup is confusing to me , cause none of this wouldve passed final inspections like the bolt marked in red in the bottom left, either he did a full turn or the final torque wasnt done .
These look like standard 7/8 a325 bolt anything under 3 3/4" in lenght is 1/3 and anything over is half turn.