• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.21-34
• /
• 2020

Precast deck joints have larger crack width than cast-in-place concrete decks. The initial crack typically occurs at the maximum moment but cracks on precast joints are significant and lead to failure of the deck. The present crack equation is applied to cast-in-place decks, and requires correction to calculate the crack width of precast deck joints. This research aims to study the crack width correction equation of precast decks by performing static tests using high strength and normal strength concrete. Based on experimental results, the bending strength of the structural connections of the current precast deck is satisfied. However it is not suitable to calculate and control the crack width of precast loop connections using the current design equation. A crack width calculation equation is proposed for crack control of precast deck loop joints. Also included in this paper are recommendations to improve the crack control of loop connections.

• International Journal of Railway
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.89-92
• /
• 2012

Effective notch stress, as an approach to evaluate the local stress at a notch (weld toe or root), is defined as the total stress assuming linear-elastic material behavior. This method can be effectively used to evaluate the fatigue performance of welded joints. In this study, finite element analysis results using the effective notch stress method were correlated with fatigue test results of rib-to-deck welded joints in a steel orthotropic bridge deck. Effective notch stress approach provided a good correlation with the crack pattern observed in the full-scale fatigue test. A higher effective notch stress at the critical weld toe than at the weld root was consistent with the dominant crack pattern observed at the weld toe during testing. The effective notch stress at the toe on the deck plate was about 80% higher than that on the rib; no cracks at the weld toe on the rib in the testing were observed. Maximum effective notch stress at the weld root occurred on the upper side of the root notch, which indicates that cracks are more likely to propagate into the deck plate, not into the weld metal. This is also consistent with the observed crack pattern in which the crack from the root propagated upward into the deck plate. No such crack pattern, propagating into the weld metal, was observed in the testing.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.6 no.5
• /
• pp.527-543
• /
• 2018

Crack control of precast members is crucial for durability. However, there is no clear provision to check the crack width of precast joints. This study presents an experimental investigation of loop joint details for use in a precast bridge deck system. High strength concrete of 130 MPa was chosen for durability and closer joint spacing. Static tests were conducted to investigate the cracking and ultimate behavior of test specimens. The experimental results indicate that current design codes provide reasonable estimation of the flexural strength and cracking load of precast elements with loop joint of high strength concrete. However, the crack width control of the loop joints with high strength concrete by the current design practices was not appropriate. Some recommendations to improve crack control of the loop joint were derived.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.981-997
• /
• 2016

To avoid the cracks of cast-in-place concrete in shear pockets and seams in the traditional composite beam with precast decks, this paper proposed a new type of prefabricated steel truss-concrete composite beam (ab. PSTC beam) with pre-embedded shear studs (ab. PSS connector). To study the initial cracking load of concrete deck, the development and distribution laws of the cracks, 3 PSTC beams were tested under hogging moment. And the crack behavior of the deck was compared with traditional precast composite beam, which was assembled by shear pockets and cast-in-place joints. Results show that: (i) the initial crack appears on the deck, thus avoid the appearance of the cracks in the traditional shear pockets; (ii) the crack of the seam appears later than that of the deck, which verifies the reliability of epoxy cement mortar seam, thus solves the complex structure and easily crack behavior of the traditional cast-in-place joints; (iii) the development and the distribution laws of the cracks in PSTC beam are different from the conventional composite beam. Therefore, in the deduction of crack calculation theory, all the above factors should be considered.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.215-227
• /
• 2017

A finite element model (FEM) for predicting early-age behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge deck slabs with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars is presented. In this model, the shrinkage profile of concrete accounted for the effect of surrounding conditions including air flow. The results of the model were verified against the experimental test results, published by the authors. The model was verified for cracking pattern, crack width and spacing, and reinforcement strains in the vicinity of the crack using different types and ratios of longitudinal reinforcement. The FEM was able to predict the experimental results within 6 to 10% error. The verified model was utilized to conduct a parametric study investigating the effect of four key parameters including reinforcement spacing, concrete cover, FRP bar type, and concrete compressive strength on the behavior of FRP-RC bridge deck slabs subjected to restrained shrinkage at early-age. It is concluded that a reinforcement ratio of 0.45% carbon FRP (CFRP) can control the early-age crack width and reinforcement strain in CFRP-RC members subjected to restrained shrinkage. Also, the results indicate that changing the bond-slippage characteristics (sand-coated and ribbed bars) or concrete cover had an insignificant effect on the early-age crack behavior of FRP-RC bridge deck slabs subjected to shrinkage. However, reducing bar spacing and concrete strength resulted in a decrease in crack width and reinforcement strain.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2003.11a
• /
• pp.202-205
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this experimental study is to understand the flexural Behavior of structural deck plate continuous slabs (power deck plate slabs). The main variables considered in this test are thickness of the slab and the deck plate. Five specimens that have length of 600cm and width of 60cm were manufactured. Test results indicated that the ultimate flexural strength of power deck plate slabs was conservative compared to ACI flexural provisions. But, suitable arrangement of bar of top reinforcement is needed for crack control.

• International journal of steel structures
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.1589-1597
• /
• 2018

Fatigue tests and numerical analysis were carried out to evaluate the fatigue performance at the U-rib to deck welded joint in steel box girder. Twenty specimens were tested corresponding to different penetration rates (80 and 100%) under fatigue bending load, and the fatigue strength was investigated based on hot spot stress (HSS) method. The detailed stress distribution at U-rib to deck welded joint was analyzed by the finite element method, as well as the stress intensity factor of weld root. The test results show that the specimens with fully penetration rate have longer crack propagation life due to the welding geometry, resulting in higher fatigue failure strength. The classification of FAT-90 is reasonable for evaluating fatigue strength by HSS method. The penetration rate has effect on crack propagation angle near the surface, and the 1-mm stress below weld toe and root approves to be more suitable for fatigue stress assessment, because of its high sensitivity to weld geometry than HSS.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 2013

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the durability of ternary blended concrete mixtures adding ultra fine admixture. METHODS : From the literature review, crack was considered as the main distress failure criterion on concrete bridge deck pavement. To reduce the initial crack development due to drying shrinkage, CSA expansion agent and shrink reduction agent were used to ternary blended concrete mixtures as a admixture. Laboratory tests including chloride ion penetration test, surface scaling test, rapid freeze & thaw resistance test, non restrained drying shrinkage and restrained drying shrinkage test were conducted to verify the durability of ternary blended concrete mixtures. RESULTS : Based on the test results, proposed mixtures were verified as high qualified durable materials. Expecially initial drying shrinkage crack was not occurred in ternary blended concrete mixtures with CSA expansion agent. CONCLUSIONS : It is concluded that the durability of proposed ternary blend concrete mixture was acceptable to apply for the concrete bridge deck pavement.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.559-576
• /
• 2016

This study is intended to propose a precast bridge deck system, which has ribbed loop joints between the decks and lacks internal tendons to improve the workability of existing precast deck system. A composite bridge deck specimen was fabricated using the proposed precast deck system, and static and fatigue load tests were conducted to evaluate the structural behavior and the crack pattern of the deck. Leakage test of the deck joints was also conducted and finite element analysis was carried out to compare with the test results.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.231-238
• /
• 2002

Dry shrinkage md temperature change cause to develope concrete bridge decks on main girders have initial unidirectional cracks in longitudinal or transverse direction. As they receive traffic loads, the crack gradually propagate in different directions depending on the concrete dimension and reinforcement ratio. Since existing equations that predict crack width are mostly based on the one directional bond-slip theory, it is difficult to determine the actual crack width of a bridge deck with varying the spacing of rebar or strengthening material and to estimate the improvement rate in serviceability of the strengthened bridge deck. In this study, crack propagation mechanism is identified based on the test results and a new crack prediction equation is proposed for evaluation of serviceability. Although more accurate results are derived using the proposed equation, the extent of error is increased as the strain of the rebar or the strengthening material increases after the yielding of rebar Therefore, further research is required to better predict the crack width after the rebar yields under fatigue loading condition.