Comparative study between steel-free and steel reinforced concrete bridge deck slabs subjected to fatigue loading

Abstract

This experimental program was designed to provide increasing evidence that second generation steel-free concrete bridge decks are a practical alternative to conventional steel reinforced concrete bridge decks. The bridge deck in this experiment was cast monolithically with one half consisting of a second generation steel-free concrete bridge deck and the second half a conventional steel reinforced concrete bridge deck. A constant cyclic load was applied to each segment at an identical magnitude to compare the two bridge decks in terms of endurance, durability, deflection, crack width, reinforcement strain, concrete strain, and overall performance. The test results obtained in this experimental program confirm the notion that second generation steel-free concrete bridge decks are a safe and reliable alternative to conventional steel reinforced concrete bridge decks, and furthermore should become more widely accepted and practiced in the field of bridge engineering. The mode of failure for both segments was punching shear failure.