Effect of ultra high-performance concrete thickness on the mechanical behavior of orthotropic steel bridge deck

Orthotropic steel bridge decks structures (OSBDs) have been widely used in long-span bridges to reduce the dead load of the bridge. However, over time, the asphalt wearing course of the bridge deck structure has shown many damages. Recently, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has been employed to repair and reinforce these structures. Therefore, this paper focuses on the effect of UHPC thickness on the mechanical behavior of the orthotropic deck. The five-point bending beam test model using the finite element method is used in this investigation to clarify the effect of UHPC thickness, the ratio of adhesion failure, and temperature on the mechanical behavior of the OSBDs. The UHPC thickness varies from 30 to 50 mm, the ratio of adhesion failure varies from 0.1 to 0.3, and the temperature changes from 30°C to 60°C. The results show that the presence of the UHPC layer significantly reduces the impact of adhesive layer damage and temperature on the behavior of the OSBDs