Performance verification tests on rationalized joint of precast steel composite deck for replacement of deteriorated highway bridge slab

Abstract

In Japan, as so many highway bridges constructed in the last four decades became superannuated, maintenance of those bridges has become the most serious problem to extend the service lives with appropriate rehabilitation works. For the slabs, replacement of severely deteriorated slabs is a recent trend to minimum the LCC. The authors developed a rationalized joint for precast steel concrete composite decks that could shorten the construction period by reducing the joint width accompanying with decrease of concrete volume and placing re-bars. In this paper, through verification tests for the joints, characteristics of concrete cracks, stress transmission of re-bars and applicability for actual bridges, were confirmed.