Numerical investigation on coupled thermo-mechanical critical response of curved ramp bridge deck pavement

Abstract

This study investigated the critical response of the curved ramp bridge deck pavement under coupled thermo-mechanical loads through a three-dimensional (3D) tyre-bridge interaction numerical model. The temperature fields of bridge deck pavement in different seasons were simulated using measured air temperature and solar radiation data. The influence of seasonal temperature changes on the viscoelastic behaviour and stress accumulation of the deck pavement layer were assessed according to the changes of dissipated energy under different cyclic thermal loads. The results indicated that varying load modes could result in different damage patterns and adverse load locations. The deck pavements above the diaphragm and longitudinal clapboard have better thermal fatigue resistance when subjected to the cyclic thermal loading; while the ones near the flange cantilever panel have stronger resistance to coupled thermo-mechanical load. Compared with the tyre load, the coupled thermo-mechanical load can yield larger critical response and more potential damage initiations.