ABSTRACT
The rib-to-deck detail in orthotropic steel bridge deck is one of the details that is prone to fatigue damage in steel bridges. In order to study the effectiveness of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) in strengthening the rib-to-deck detail of orthotropic steel bridge deck, a multi-scale finite element model of the orthotropic steel bridge deck segment was established. Additionally, a cyclic cohesive zone model considering the cumulative process of adhesive layer interface stiffness degradation was derived to study the fatigue performance of the adhesive layer interface between CFRP and steel under cyclic loading. The research results show that CFRP reinforcement method can reduce the equivalent stress intensity factor amplitude at the crack tip, thereby inhibiting crack propagation. Under cyclic loading, the adhesive layer interface damage initiates at the weld toe of rib-to-deck detail, and gradually extends toward the deck and U-rib with the increase of loading cycles. After 5 million loading cycles, only a small part of the adhesive layer is completely damaged, indicating that the CFRP reinforcement method has good durability.
