Numeric simulation of corroded steel bridge girder end region repairs

Abstract

An extensive finite element (FE) modeling campaign focusing on different means of repairing corrosion-damage steel girder ends is presented. Significantly corroded end regions were repaired using three approaches: conventional bolted steel repair, encasement in ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), and encasement in conventional reinforced concrete (RC). ABAQUS-based models were developed and validated based on a previously-reported experimental program (Mash et al. 2023). The modeling of the test specimens proved to be robust and captured observed behavior well. Once the test specimen modeling was “benchmarked” against the observed behavior, the models were expanded to archetypal plate girders to verify the validity of the repair methods. The models confirmed the validity of adopting AASHTO-prescribed equations for estimating residual capacity of damaged girder ends. The numerical analyses presented were able to capture tension field behavior and, therefore, illustrate the potential degree of conservativeness – under ultimate loading conditions – in actual repair designs in which relative stiff bearing stiffeners are used. Similarly, by encasing the web, the shear panel length is reduced and capacity may be increased. Based on the robustness of the models, the analyses presented in this work may be adopted as a benchmark for future studies.