Fatigue assessment of longitudinal rib-to-crossbeam welded joints in orthotropic steel bridge decks

Abstract

Fatigue cracks at rib-to-crossbeam welded joints in orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) accelerate degradation of steel bridges. This research aims to investigate fatigue cracking characteristics of rib-to-crossbeam welded joints, and assess the fatigue strength of the welded joints through fatigue testing and finite element analysis. Nine large-scale specimens were tested under static and fatigue loading to explore the failure mode, fatigue life, and failure process. The fatigue test results were compared with the fatigue strength values recommended in different design specifications. Based on the hot spot stress and notch stress approaches, SN curves for rib-to-crossbeam welded joints were derived and compared with the existing fatigue test data. The results indicate that fatigue cracks that initiate from the weld end at the weld toe controls the fatigue resistance of the rib-to-crossbeam welded joints. A statistical analysis was performed to study the probability distribution of the fatigue strength.