Highway bridges are usually subjected to random dynamic actions of variable magnitude due to vehicles convoys crossing on the bridge pavement deck along their service life. In this context, the asphalt pavement deteriorated road surface condition represents a key issue to assess the bridge displacement and stress values. This way, this research work aims to develop an analysis methodology in order to assess the dynamic structural behaviour of steel-concrete composite highway bridges including the vehicles convoys dynamic actions and the pavement progressive deterioration effect. The conclusions of this investigation have indicated that the displacements and stresses values are considerably higher, with relevant amplifications up to four times, when the road pavement deterioration effect is considered in the bridge dynamic analysis.

Fatigue cracking is one of the most prominent causes of mechanical failure limiting the service life of existing steel and composite steel–concrete bridges and is among the central concerns of structural and bridge engineers. In this context, the current work presents some recent advancements in an existing methodology for fatigue analysis developed by the authors throughout the years. The methodology is specifically devoted to the fatigue assessment of composite steel–concrete bridges employing the local hot-spot S-N approach and a coupled vehicle–pavement–bridge system considering progressive pavement deterioration with stochastically generated roughness profiles. Two different methodologies were used to solve the dynamic equilibrium equations: the modal superposition method to solve the bridge dynamic equations and a direct integration method to solve the vehicle dynamic equations. From a computational point of view, the present approach is more efficient and detailed than previous versions, as it allows a significant reduction in the analysis time and the use of complex bridge and vehicle finite element models. In this regard, a case study of a highway composite steel–concrete bridge spanning 40 m was selected in order to demonstrate the usefulness of the presented improved methodology by carrying out a fatigue analysis. The results of this investigation (displacements and stresses) are presented, aiming to verify the factors that directly influence the structural response and, consequently, the service life of steel–concrete composite highway bridges.