Full-Scale Fatigue Tests of a New Rib-to-Floor Beam Connection for Orthotropic Steel Decks

Abstract

Full-scale laboratory tests were conducted to assess the fatigue performance of a new rib-to-floor beam (RFB) connection with a stress relieving slit for orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) in highway bridges. The slit rib-to-floor beam (S-RFB) connection combines aspects of the previously used fitted RFB connection and extended cut-out RFB connection. Different loading configurations were used to study the in-plane fatigue stress response and out-of-plane fatigue stress response of the S-RFB connection. Both static and cyclic fatigue loading tests were conducted. The test results indicate that the S-RFB connection provides good fatigue performance and that the AASHTO specifications for fatigue design of OSDs are applicable to the design of the S-RFB connection.