Fatigue Behaviour Simulation of Bridge Deck Repaired with Self Compacting Concrete

Abstract

Bridge decks damaged by both internal actions and environmental actions need to be repaired in order to restore the initial safety level. The usual repair procedure requires removing the damaged concrete, introducing additional reinforcement and shear connectors, and final concreting of a new layer. The efficiency of repair with the above procedure is investigated in the present paper by means of an experimental program on seven repaired real-scale slabs, on which both static and fatigue tests were performed. The specimens are representative of a typical transversal strip of bridge deck. The numerical interpretation of the experimental results confirms the good overall behaviour of the repaired beams, putting in evidence the possibility to reduce the shear connectors by use of self compacting concrete for the new casting.