Abstract
Under traffic loads, orthotropic steel bridge slabs suffer from an obvious fatigue problem. In particular, fatigue cracking of diaphragms seriously affects application and development of orthotropic bridge slabs. In the paper, based on cracking status quo of an orthotropic deck diaphragm of a large-span bridge, experimental tests were formulated to test stress distribution states of the diaphragm. The finite element software ABAQUS was used to establish a finite element model of the orthotropic deck diaphragm; numerical simulation was conducted on the basis of the experiments. Simulation results were compared with experimental results, so correctness of the finite element model was verified. Finally, Local Strain Approach (LSA) and Theory of Critical Distance (TCD) were used to conduct life assessment of the orthotropic deck diaphragms, and applicability of two methods was discussed. In this way, a fatigue life assessment method with high accuracy and good operability was provided for fatigue life assessment of orthotropic deck diaphragms.
Highlights
Design theories and construction technologies for bridge structure have achieved rapid development with the advancement of science and technology
The finite element software ABAQUS was used to establish a finite element model of the orthotropic deck diaphragm; numerical simulation was conducted on the basis of the experiments
A fatigue life assessment method with high accuracy and good operability was provided for fatigue life assessment of orthotropic deck diaphragms
Summary
Design theories and construction technologies for bridge structure have achieved rapid development with the advancement of science and technology. Xiao et al established a finite element model for an orthotropic deck and obtained stress distribution of horizontal reinforcement ribs under vehicle loads and reckoned a design value of fatigue strength according to basic theories of linear elasticity fracture mechanics [17]. Aygül et al applied three methods to conduct finite element analysis of fatigue life of welding nodes at joints between longitudinal ribs of an orthotropic deck and the diaphragm and compared analysis results with experimental results of full-scale node model fatigue testing [18]. Research focused on fatigue problems of orthotropic steel bridge slabs but failed to discuss stress distribution on different paths of diaphragms and did not conduct deep comparison or analysis of fatigue life assessment methods. A fatigue life assessment method with high accuracy and good operability was provided for fatigue life assessment of orthotropic deck diaphragms
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