Abstract
This paper investigates fatigue strength of the longitudinal-to-transverse rib connections between U, V, or plate ribs and slit or non-slit transverse rib webs in orthotropic steel decks. Fatigue strength of the each connection was evaluated under the severest load positions which take traffic load moving into account. As results, the severest load positions were clarified to be not upon but some away from the target connections. Changing the slit connection to the non-slit connection reduced the local stress ranges on the connections with the U and the plate ribs by 75 and 58%. In addition, the local stress range of the non-slit connection with the V rib was lower than that with the U rib by 39%.
