Epoxy asphalt concrete protective course used on steel railway bridge

In order to improve the safety and service life of the railway bridges, an epoxy asphalt concrete protective course (EACPC) for the railway steel bridges is proposed. Firstly, the strength performances of the epoxy asphalt concrete (EAC) were tested through laboratory experiments. The results show that the EAC has better strength performance and cracking resistance than the portland cement concrete (PCC), and the greatest bending strength is almost three times larger than that of the PCC. Secondly, the cooperative performances of the EAC were evaluated by the abrasion resistance test and the linear contraction coefficient test. The results show that the EACPC has good cooperative performances with the ballast layer and the steel deck. Finally, a numerical analysis of a typical railway steel bridge deck system was conducted, and the dynamic responses of the EACPC under trainload was investigated through a finite element model. The results indicate that the strength of the EAC can meet the requirements of the protective course, and the EAC cooperates well with the steel deck. It could be concluded that EAC is a good material for protective course of railway bridge deck.

► The epoxy asphalt concrete protective course (EACPC) used on steel railway bridge is designed.
► The EAC has good strength performance as well as good cooperative performance.
► The EACPC can significantly improve the cracking resistance of the bridge deck system.
► The EACPC has a better structural performance than PCC protective course.