Full-Scale Fatigue Tests of a New Rib-to-Floor Beam Connection for Orthotropic Steel Decks
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 27, Issue 10
Abstract
Full-scale laboratory tests were conducted to assess the fatigue performance of a new rib-to-floor beam (RFB) connection with a stress relieving slit for orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) in highway bridges. The slit rib-to-floor beam (S-RFB) connection combines aspects of the previously used fitted RFB connection and extended cut-out RFB connection. Different loading configurations were used to study the in-plane fatigue stress response and out-of-plane fatigue stress response of the S-RFB connection. Both static and cyclic fatigue loading tests were conducted. The test results indicate that the S-RFB connection provides good fatigue performance and that the AASHTO specifications for fatigue design of OSDs are applicable to the design of the S-RFB connection.
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Acknowledgments
The research reported in this paper is based on the work supported by the Federal Highway Administration under Cooperative Agreement No. DTFH61-11-H-00027. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Highway Administration. Financial support was also provided through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 27 • Issue 10 • October 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 28, 2021
Accepted: Jun 22, 2022
Published online: Aug 2, 2022
Published in print: Oct 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jan 2, 2023
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