Experimental fatigue assessment of connections between plate-type longitudinal ribs and non-slit transverse ribs in orthotropic steel decks

The present study investigated the fatigue strength of the connection between longitudinal and transverse ribs using a method proposed in previous studies. Fatigue test results combined with finite element analysis and residual stress estimation confirmed that the fatigue performance of the connection can be assessed by the hot-spot stress approach and the fatigue design curve of FAT 80 (≃ JSSC E). Although the fatigue strength of the weld toes at longitudinal rib was higher than that of FAT 225, the compression residual stress, which was measured at the weld toes, was considered to affect the fatigue strength. Since the residual stresses of actual structures are hardly controlled, fatigue assessment with FAT 80 (≃ JSSC E) should be applied to the weld toes at both longitudinal and transverse ribs for safe side evaluation.