EXPERIMENTAL FATIGUE EVALUATION OF VARIOUS ORTHOTROPIC STEEL DECK TYPES BASED ON LOCAL STRESSE STATES UNDER MOVING TRAFFIC LOADS

Abstract

 This paper investigates fatigue strength of various orthotropic steel deck types based on hot-spot stresses under moving traffic loads. The load positions and the load ranges were decided from finite element analysis result to simulate maximum hot-spot stress ranges of longitudinal to transverse rib connections which can occur under the actual traffic condition. Results show that non-slit connections between longitudinal and transverse ribs were of high fatigue strength. Especially, the orthotropic steel deck with plate-type longitudinal ribs and the non-slit connections were of higher fatigue strength than the strength equivalent to 1.0×10⁷ cycles of design fatigue load.