Stress reduction effects of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete overlaid steel bridge deck developed with a new interfacial bond method

• Published in: Construction & building materials 2022-04, Vol.328, p.127104, Article 127104
• Main Authors: Deng, Pengru, Mi, Hongji, Mitamura, Hiroshi, Matsumoto, Takashi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: FEM; Interfacial bond; Steel bridge deck; Stress reduction; UHPFRC
• ISSN: 0950-0618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127104

•An innovative bonding technique is proposed using adhesive and aggregates.•The technique can provide a 3 MPa of bond strength and an excellent compatibility.•Effectiveness of a 25 mm of UHPFRC overlaid on OSDs are evaluated.•An up to 80% of strain reduction may be achieved at critical locations. The effects of a 25 mm of UHPFRC overlay on reducing the stress of the open ribs-stiffened orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) are assessed experimentally and analytically. To integrate the UHPFRC overlay and the OSDs, an adhesive-based bonding technique is developed and evaluated beforehand using a pull-off test and a three-point bending test, where a 3 MPa of excellent bond strength and an invisible slip demonstrate the reliability of the technique. With the developed bonding technique, an up to 80% of strain reduction and a peak clipping phenomenon are observed in the strain of the critical locations of the steel deck and structural members in the hotspot areas due to the UHPFRC. In addition, it is found that the superior high strengths and the strain-hardening of UHPFRC can postpone the initiation and propagation of cracks. As a result, an effective enhancement of stiffness of OSDs and an apparent fatigue life extension can be achieved even with a thin layer.