Abstract
The present study is intended as analysis investigations of fatigue durability of the trough to deck plate welded joint failed at weld root in deck plate. The investigations are carried out on the basis of three key factors: fatigue strengths of the welded details obtained by analysis method in conjunction with fatigue tests, stress ranges by FEM analyses with a unit wheel load, and the loads and their frequencies for the fatigue evaluations are the wheel loads in service, represented by an equivalent wheel load, assumed from the axle load measurements. Consistency between fatigue strength and stress range is simply demonstrated. Using this method for fatigue evaluation, it is found that large-rib-deck model has longer fatigue life than standard-deck models. An increase in deck plate thickness may prolong fatigue life of the orthotropic steel deck. Load distribution due to the rigidity of pavement may also help enhancement the fatigue life.
