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A summary of recent box-girder failures, a discussion of the design problems associated with box-girder bridges, and a review of the basis for current American design specifications are presented. The applicability of existing information to the formulation of an ultimate strength approach to box-girder design is considered. Design problems requiring additional study as well as research needs are discussed. It is concluded that considerable analytical and experimental work dealing with stiffened compression flange behavior, web behavior and their effects on the overall behaviors of box girders is required prior to the formulation of an ultimate strength approach to design.

The state-of-the-art of steel box girder design and construction is reviewed. It is shown from a list of 50 recently constructed bridges that the use of the steel box girder configuration is increa...