Analysis of Fatigue Performance of U-Rib to Deck Connections in Orthotropic Steel Bridge Structures

Abstract

The stress condition of the transverse rib, bridge deck, and crossbeam in orthotropic steel bridge decks (OSBD) is complicated. Existing fatigue test specimens and the fatigue performance of components in OSBD differ significantly. In this paper, the numerical analysis method using traction structural stress is validated by the comparison with fatigue test results. The evaluation results of the fatigue behavior using the traction structural stress method are proven to be accurate. The comparative results give the fatigue performance of various types of typical test specimens in terms of the equivalent structural stress and initiation locations.