Joint-free Bridges With High Performance Materials

Joint-free bridges are preferred over those with conventional expansion joints because they provide better protection for structural components and allow such assets to reach their intended service life. Strategies for implementing joint-free bridges include the incorporation of link slabs (LS) and sliding approach slabs (SAS). Since LS and SAS need to be flexible to function well, the use of conventional steel-reinforced concrete is not ideal. This study explores the use of high-performance materials such as engineered cementitious composite (ECC) and glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars for joint-free bridges under static or fatigue loading through experimental, numerical, parametric studies, and design-oriented analysis. It was found that high-performance materials helped to improve the performance of joint-free bridges with link slabs by providing flexibility, crack control, and fatigue resilience. The improved compatibility between ECC and GFRP contributed to better LS structural performance, as both materials contributed by sharing stresses under static and fatigue loading compared to steel rebar. Reinforced concrete deck girder joint-free bridges incorporating ECC link slabs were also investigated under static and fatigue loading, and showed structural performance comparable to that of composite deck steel girder bridges. It was also determined that ECC SAS performed well under static and fatigue loading, as well as in the case of approach fill soil settlement.