Parametric study of floorbeam cutouts for orthotropic bridge decks to determine shape factors

Abstract

The structural response of a steel orthotropic bridge deck is characterised by the complex interaction between its components. In the case of ribs passing continuously through cutouts in the floor beam web, the floor beam exhibits a Vierendeel type truss behaviour. The paper presents the results of a parametric study for 10 trapezoidal rib geometries in conjunction with eight types of floor beam cutouts to determine shape factors. Five rib depths of 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 mm in conjunction with three angles of inclination 10/3, 20/9 and √3 (corresponding to h/h' values of 10/10.44, 10/10.97 and 10/11.55 as defined by AASHTO LFRD Code) are studied. Shape factors were determined as a design aid to engineers. In addition, the results are compared to measured values derived from a full-scale orthotropic plated test specimen, especially intended for this purpose. The comparison results validate the calculation model.

Keywords:

• orthotropic bridge
• orthotropic deck
• rib to floorbeam connection