Stochastic Traffic-Based Fatigue Life Assessment of Rib-to-Deck Welding Joints in Orthotropic Steel Decks with Thickened Edge U-Ribs

• Published in: Applied sciences Vol. 9; no. 13; p. 2582
• Main Authors: Heng, Junlin, Zheng, Kaifeng, Kaewunruen, Sakdirat, Baniotopoulos, Charalampos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.07.2019
• Subjects: Bridges; Cracks; Engineering; fatigue life; Fatigue life assessment; Fracture mechanics; influence surface method; Investigations; Life assessment; Materials fatigue; Metal fatigue; Monte Carlo simulation; orthotropic steel deck; rib-to-deck joint; stochastic traffic model; Stochasticity; Strain gauges; Stress concentration; thickened edge U-rib; Vehicles; Welded joints; Welding; China

Rib-to-deck (RD) joints in orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) are highly prone to fatigue cracking under heavy traffic. An innovative longitudinal rib, named the thickened edge U-rib (TEU), has been proposed to enhance the fatigue strength of RD joints and validated through model tests. However, more st...