Failure Study of an Aluminum Bridge Deck Panel

Aluminum bridge decks may prove to be an alternative to concrete decks for improving the performance of structural bridge systems. Combining excellent corrosion resistance with extremely low density, aluminum decks can prolong surface life, facilitate the construction process, and expand rehabilitation capabilities. Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., has invested considerable resources to develop a proprietary aluminum deck system. The Virginia Department of Transportation agreed to employ the Reynolds deck system in two projects. Using Federal Highway Administration sponsorship, the Virginia Transportation Research Council initiated a study to evaluate the aluminum deck system. The first phase of this project analyzed the static response of a 2.74 × 3.66 m (9 × 12 ft) deck panel. Both service-load tests and ultimate-load tests were performed on the panel at the Turner-Fairbank Structural Laboratory. The experimental and analytical evaluation of the ultimate load static tests is the subject of this paper. The failure load and failure mechanism were predicted with great accuracy. The model data predicted panel failure at a load of 911.89 kN (205 kips) by yielding under the load patch while failure during the laboratory test occurred at a load of 872.07 kN (196.05 kips) by gross yielding underneath the load patch.