Abstract
A novel ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) layer composite orthotropic steel deck was adopted in the construction of a new bridge in China to improve the fatigue performance of the orthotropic steel deck plate and reduce the disease of surface wearing layer. In situ experiments were conducted to study the UHPC layer’s impact on the behavior of the orthotropic steel deck. The test vehicle loads were applied on the deck plate before and after UHPC layer paving, the stresses where fatigue cracks usually occur and the deflections of critical sections were measured. The test results verified that the UHPC composite steel deck system could significantly reduce the stress of the rib-to-deck connection region and the stress at the bottom toe of rib-to-diaphragm weld. In addition, it slightly influenced the performance of U shape rib, girder web-to-deck and diaphragm cutout.
Highlights
Orthotropic steel deck (OSD) with its unique advantages, has been popularly used in large and medium span steel bridges
The study results showed that the ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) layer significantly enhanced the rigidity of the OSD system, reduced the stress level of steel deck plate and improved the mechanical behavior of asphalt pavement
An in situ load experiment was designed to study the influence of the UHPC layer on the behavior of a composite OSD system
Summary
Orthotropic steel deck (OSD) with its unique advantages, has been popularly used in large and medium span steel bridges. Previous research has indicated that the wearing surface plays a great role in improving fatigue performance of OSD, which effectively reduces fatigue stresses in the steel deck components under repetitive load [9]. High performance concrete was employed to serve as a rigid wearing surface of OSD, which could efficiently improve the whole rigidity of bridge deck system. Reinforced high performance concrete (RHPC) was adopted as the rigid wearing surface of the Caland Bridge in Portland; fatigue cracks still occurred in the RHPC layer [17]. The study results showed that the UHPC layer significantly enhanced the rigidity of the OSD system, reduced the stress level of steel deck plate and improved the mechanical behavior of asphalt pavement. UHPC layer, which helped for evaluating the fatigue life and further optimizing the composite deck components
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