Abstract
In recent years, researchers have investigated the load distribution factors due to vehicle wheel loads. Several load distribution factors for fiber reinforced polymer deck-steel stringer bridge systems have been proposed. Unfortunately, these load distribution factors are only used for each particular fiber reinforced polymer bridge deck system. Therefore, the objective of the research effort is to present the load distribution results of a parametric study using finite element analysis. The simplified load distribution factors were developed herein. The bridge parameters for this study were stringer spacing, bridge span, width of bridge models, types of fiber reinforced polymer bridge decks and numbers of traffic lanes. The bridge responses under various wheel loading conditions were investigated. The simplified distribution factors based on “S-over-factor” formula were proposed and compared with the load distribution factors obtained from specifications, analytical and field data. The load distribution results for this present study were correlated to the previous research data. The upper and lower bound limit of the load distribution factors were presented to purpose of preliminary guidelines.
Highlights
Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials are gaining greater acceptance as the materials of choices for highway bridge decks
One of important issues concerning the design of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bridge deck systems has been focused on the development of load distribution factors
The present study aims to fill this need for design and analysis of FRP bridge deck systems, conducting parametric study of FRP bridge deck behaviour under vehicular loads
Summary
Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials are gaining greater acceptance as the materials of choices for highway bridge decks. The FRP bridge deck responses using finite element method compared with experimental data were done by numerous researches (Alagusundaramoorthy, Reddy 2008; Kim et al 2005; Lee et al 2007; Prachasaree et al 2006, 2009). One of important issues concerning the design of FRP bridge deck systems has been focused on the development of load distribution factors. The three dimensional models of FRP bridge deck systems are validated by comparing the data with the experimental results from laboratory and field tests (Howard, GangaRao 2009; Liu et al 2008; Moses et al 2006; Turner et al 2004; Zhang, Cai 2007). Design community prefers and seeks to simpler and less complex wheel load distribution equations
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