Abstract
Recently in Japan, fatigue cracks which initiated from the root of welding joint between deck plate and U-shaped rib and propagated toward the upper surface of deck plate in orthotropic steel decks have been reported. In this study, to evaluate fatigue life of welding joint for these root cracks, the reference strain was defined. First, the position of the reference strain was discussed. Second, the relationship between the reference strain and stress of root was investigated by analytical method, based on the results of wheel trucking tests with actual size specimens and filed stress measurements. Finally, fatigue life was evaluated and was clarified the quantitative effect that thicker deck plate influenced to fatigue durability of welding joints.
