Study on the effect of load level and carriageway slab thickness on fatigue performance of concrete T-girder bridges
International Journal of Structural Integrity
ISSN: 1757-9864
Article publication date: 16 April 2020
Issue publication date: 13 April 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The effects of fatigue load level and plate thickness on the fatigue performance of reinforced concrete T-beam bridges.
Design/methodology/approach
Fatigue load tests were performed based on the fatigue damage theory of reinforced concrete, combined with finite element model analysis. The other conditions are controlled separately, and the fatigue performance of the T-beam bridge carriageway slab under different fatigue load levels and different plate thicknesses is studied.
Findings
The fatigue process of the carriageway slab of a reinforced concrete T-beam bridge is divided into three stages: fatigue damage generation, fatigue damage development and fatigue failure. Under certain other conditions, as the fatigue load level increases, the fatigue damage of the carriageway slab accelerates; as the thickness of the carriageway slab increases, the fatigue resistance of the carriageway slab improves.
Research limitations/implications
Tests and simulations have been carried out, but have not been applied to actual engineering for the time being.
Practical implications
Increasing the thickness of the carriageway slab in actual engineering is conducive to improving the fatigue performance of the bridge, and heavy-duty traffic has a greater impact on the durability of the bridge.
Social implications
It has certain reference value for bridge design, inspection and subsequent maintenance and reinforcement.
Originality/value
The originality of this article lies in designing and carrying out static and cyclic load tests separately, while introducing material damage models based on a large number of references and combining finite element analysis to consider the impact of a specific factor on fatigue performance. The test and analysis results can provide reference for bridge design and inspection.
Keywords
Citation
Liu, Z., Yu, T. and Zhang, L. (2021), "Study on the effect of load level and carriageway slab thickness on fatigue performance of concrete T-girder bridges", International Journal of Structural Integrity, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 284-305. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSI-02-2020-0015
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited