TY - JOUR
T1 - Fatigue Performance of Rib-to-Deck Joints in Orthotropic Steel Decks with Thickened Edge U-Ribs
AU - Heng, Junlin
AU - Zheng, Kaifeng
AU - Gou, Chao
AU - Zhang, Yu
AU - Bao, Yi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
PY - 2017/9/1
Y1 - 2017/9/1
N2 - This study evaluated the fatigue performance of rib-to-deck welded joints in orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) with thickened edge U-ribs (TEUs). Fatigue performance of four rib-to-deck specimens with TEUs was investigated and compared with those of three rib-to-deck specimens with conventional U-ribs. Overall, the use of TEUs enhanced the fatigue strength of rib-to-deck joints. Finite-element modeling was conducted and validated by experimental data and sensitivity analyses. The validated finite-element model was then used to investigate the mechanism for the enhancement of fatigue strengths caused by use of TEUs and to evaluate the effects of weld penetration and open angle of rib-to-deck joints. Findings show that use of TEUs significantly improved the robustness of welded joints in terms of sensitivity to variations in the weld penetration. Appropriate increases in the open angle of rib-to-deck joints in OSDs with TEUs further improved fatigue performances. Finally, two full-scale orthotropic steel deck specimens were tested to further validate the effectiveness of TEUs.
AB - This study evaluated the fatigue performance of rib-to-deck welded joints in orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) with thickened edge U-ribs (TEUs). Fatigue performance of four rib-to-deck specimens with TEUs was investigated and compared with those of three rib-to-deck specimens with conventional U-ribs. Overall, the use of TEUs enhanced the fatigue strength of rib-to-deck joints. Finite-element modeling was conducted and validated by experimental data and sensitivity analyses. The validated finite-element model was then used to investigate the mechanism for the enhancement of fatigue strengths caused by use of TEUs and to evaluate the effects of weld penetration and open angle of rib-to-deck joints. Findings show that use of TEUs significantly improved the robustness of welded joints in terms of sensitivity to variations in the weld penetration. Appropriate increases in the open angle of rib-to-deck joints in OSDs with TEUs further improved fatigue performances. Finally, two full-scale orthotropic steel deck specimens were tested to further validate the effectiveness of TEUs.
KW - Fatigue performance
KW - Open angle
KW - Orthotropic steel decks
KW - Rib-to-deck welded joint
KW - Thickened edge U-rib
KW - Weld penetration
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U2 - 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001095
DO - 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001095
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85023744786
SN - 1084-0702
VL - 22
JO - Journal of Bridge Engineering
JF - Journal of Bridge Engineering
IS - 9
M1 - 04017059
ER -