Abstract
Toe-deck (TD) fatigue due to wheel induced distortion of orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) was reported by laboratory tests. The existing OSDs could probably suffer the TD fatigue and is evaluated using the hot spot stress (HSS) method. The wheel induced stresses of the trough-deck welded joint are analyzed using the shell model. The influences of HSS with mesh size, stress extrapolation, element shape function and the hot spot location variation are checked. TD fatigue durability using the monitored traffic data and the design specifications are discussed. Results demonstrate that the weld toe of the joint suffers wheel induced stress concentration and frequent stress cycles. The refined shell model using the 4-node-shell elements results in nearly constant HSS. TD fatigue durability of the 12mm deck with 50mm asphalt pavement falls below the designed service life that might explain the observed fatigue cracks in the vicinity of the deck toe by laboratory tests and the in-site observation. The TD fatigue evaluation using the HSS method may be utilized to get a conservative OSD design.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AASHTO Inc. (2004). LRFD bridge design specifications. 3rd Ed., Washington, DC.
Ansys Inc. (2013). Mechanical user’s guide, Canonsburg, PA.
BSI (1980). Steel, concrete and composite bridges, BS5400: Part 10. Code of practice for fatigue, British Standards Institution, pp. 7–8.
De Jong, F. B. P. (2004). “Overview fatigue phenomenon in orthotropic bridge decks in the Netherlands.” Proc. 2004 Orthotropic Bridge Conference, Sacramento, California, USA, pp. 25–27.
CEN (2006). Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures. Part 2: Steel Bridges. ENV 1993-2, European Committee for Standardization.
Fisher, J. W. and Roy, S. (2014). Durability of steel orthotropic bridge decks. Bridge maintenance, safety, management and life extension. Taylor & Francis Group, London, 978-1-138-00103-9, pp. 117–130.
Hobbacher, A. (2009). Recommendations for fatigue design of welded joints and components. IIW doc.1823-07, Welding Research Council Bulletin 520, New York.
JRA (2002). Fatigue design guidelines for steel highway bridges, Japan Road Association, Tokyo (in Japanese).
Ji, B. H. and Liu, R. (2013). “Evaluation on root-deck fatigue of orthotropic steel bridge deck.” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 90, pp. 174–183.
Kolstein, M. H. (2007). Fatigue classification of welded joints in orthotropic steel bridge decks. Ph.D. Dissertation, T.U.Delft.
Liu, R., Ji, B. H., Wang, M. M., Chen, C., and Maeno, H. (2014a). “Numerical evaluation of toe-deck fatigue in orthotropic steel bridge deck.” Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 04014180. pp. 1–10.
Liu, R., Liu, Y. Q., Ji, B. H., Wang, M. M., and Tian, Y. (2014b). “Hot spot stress analysis on rib-deck welded joint in orthotropic steel decks.” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 97, pp. 1–9.
Miki, C., Tateishi, K., Okukawa, A., and Fuji, Y. (1995). “Local stress and fatigue strength of the joint between longitudinal and transverse ribs in orthotropic steel deck plate.” Journal of Japan Society of Civil Engineering, 519(32), pp. 127–137 (in Japanese).
Miki, C. (2006). “Fatigue damage in orthotropic steel bridge decks and retrofit works.” International Journal of Steel Structures, 6(4), pp. 255–267.
Mori, T., Shigihara, S., and Nakamura, H. (2006). “Fatigue tests on welded connections between deck plate and trough rib in steel plate deck in consideration of welded penetration.” J. of JSCE, 62(3), pp. 570–581 (in Japanese).
Pan, P., Li, Q. W., Zhou, Y. B., Li, Y. S., and Wang, Y. Q. (2011). “Vehicle survey and local fatigue analysis of a highway bridge.” China Civil Engineering Journal, 44(5), pp. 94–100 (in Chinese).
PWRI (2010). Cooperative research report of fatigue durability improvement technology of orthotropic steel bridge deck. No. 398, part 2, Public Works Research Institute, Ibaraki, pp. 44–54 (in Japanese).
Sim, H. B., Uang, C. M., and Sikorsky, C. (2009). “Effects of fabrication procedures on fatigue resistance of welded joints in steel orthotropic decks.” Journal of Bridge Engineering, 14(5), pp. 366–373.
Wolchuk, R. (1999). “Steel orthotropic decks developments in the 1990s.” Transportation Research Record, No. 99-0430, 1688, pp. 30–37.
Xiao, Z. G., Yamada, K., Ya, S., and Zhao, X. L. (2008). “Stress analyses and fatigue evaluation of rib-to-deck joints in steel orthotropic decks.” International Journal of Fatigue, 30(8), pp. 1387–1397.
Yuan, H. (2011). Optimization of rib-to-deck welds for steel orthotropic bridge decks. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Blacksburg, VA.
Zhou, Y. B. (2010). Crack study and local fatigue analysis of orthotropic steel decks on bridges. Tsinghua University, China (in Chinese).
Zhang, L. F., Ai, J., Zhang, P. F., and Yang, C. H. (2013). “Damage and cause analysis of steel box girder in long span bridges.” Chinese Journal of Highways and Automotive Applications, 156(3), pp. 203–206 (in Chinese).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, R., Wang, B. & Liu, Y. Distortion induced fatigue of deck plate at rib intersection with diaphragm in orthotropic steel deck. Int J Steel Struct 15, 623–632 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-015-9009-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-015-9009-3