Behavior of Composite Bridge Decks with Alternative Shear Connectors

Abstract

An experimental study of composite bridge decks with alternative shear connectors has been performed. The alternative shear connector consists of concrete filled holes located in the webs of grid main bars and friction along the web embedded in the slab, which enables shear transfer between the concrete slab and steel grid. Results of static and fatigue tests on full-scale prototype decks indicated that composite action between the concrete slab and steel grid is maintained well above the service load range even after fatigue loading, the eventual loss of composite action at overload is gradual, failure was controlled by punching shear of the concrete slab and was unaffected by the shear connectors, and no significant change in behavior was observed due to fatigue loading. Further, the measured stress range at the shear connection location would not control the fatigue behavior of the deck in positive bending, and no fatigue cracking of the steel grid was observed in negative bending.