Structural response of orthotropic bridge deck depending on the corroded deck surface

The possibility of the occurrence of orthotropic-steel-bridge-deck corrosion damage is usually not considered in its maintenance due to the deck’s anti-corrosion coating or painting. The severely corroded surface of an orthotropic steel bridge deck was reported, and fatigue crack occurred on the corroded deck plate, related to severe corrosion damage. Researches on and reinforcement of orthotropic steel bridge deck damage consisting of a corroded deck surface and corrosion damage, however, are rarely conducted. Thus, in this study, the structural responses of an orthotropic steel bridge deck with a corroded deck surface were analytically evaluated to examine the effect of the corrosion on the structural behaviors. Three-dimensional FE analysis models were constructed using two corrosion surface models as a mean corroded-surface model and a corroded surface model to consider the corrosion level of the deck surface. The stiffness change of the asphalt pavement was also considered according to the seasonal temperature change. In the case of the corroded-surface model, a high stress concentration was appeared because of the surface roughness of the corroded deck surface with reduced deck thickness. Their stress levels were evaluated that it can develop the fatigue crack on the orthotropic bridge deck surface compared with the fatigue category suggested in the IIW, AASHOTO and JSSC.

► Structural responses on orthotropic steel deck with corroded deck surface.
► Corroded deck surface models using spatial statistical simulation by variogram.
► Comparison of behaviors of the bridge deck by the corroded levels and surfaces.
► Evaluation of the possibility of the fatigue crack by corrosion using fatigue categories.